ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, NET - Ageing Categories (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounts Receivable, net
0-60 Days	$ 116,146				$ 130,193
61-120 Days	28,156				36,269
121-180 Days	15,082				18,680
Over 180 Days	61,836				85,783
Accounts receivable, before allowances	221,220				270,925
Allowance for disallowed revenue	(61,137)				(81,306)				$ (87,192)	$ (52,277)
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(15,521)	$ (14,418)	$ (15,241)	$ (16,296)	(15,027)	$ (14,419)	$ (14,033)	$ (13,225)	$ (9,944)	$ (6,472)
Accounts receivable, net	144,562	$ 139,203	$ 145,605	$ 149,816	174,592	$ 166,058	$ 163,635	$ 159,244
Patient Care
Accounts Receivable, net
Accounts receivable, before allowances	193,835				245,923
Allowance for disallowed revenue	(61,137)				(81,306)
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(10,575)				(13,371)
Accounts receivable, net	122,123				151,246
Patient Care | Non-medicare
Accounts Receivable, net
0-60 Days	67,040				75,427
61-120 Days	16,653				21,070
121-180 Days	8,996				11,202
Over 180 Days	24,623				40,742
Accounts receivable, before allowances	117,312				148,441
Patient Care | Commercial insurance
Accounts Receivable, net
0-60 Days	48,568				55,173
61-120 Days	11,677				14,744
121-180 Days	6,050				7,663
Over 180 Days	17,453				28,492
Accounts receivable, before allowances	83,748				106,072
Patient Care | Private pay
Accounts Receivable, net
0-60 Days	897				1,193
61-120 Days	547				715
121-180 Days	441				641
Over 180 Days	1,034				2,718
Accounts receivable, before allowances	2,919				5,267
Patient Care | Medicaid
Accounts Receivable, net
0-60 Days	13,937				14,714
61-120 Days	3,554				4,534
121-180 Days	2,110				2,309
Over 180 Days	5,415				7,510
Accounts receivable, before allowances	25,016				29,067
Patient Care | VA
Accounts Receivable, net
0-60 Days	3,638				4,347
61-120 Days	875				1,077
121-180 Days	395				589
Over 180 Days	721				2,022
Accounts receivable, before allowances	5,629				8,035
Patient Care | Medicare
Accounts Receivable, net
0-60 Days	32,980				39,423
61-120 Days	4,813				8,765
121-180 Days	3,055				5,285
Over 180 Days	35,675				44,009
Accounts receivable, before allowances	76,523				97,482
Products & Services
Accounts Receivable, net
Accounts receivable, before allowances	27,385				25,002
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(4,946)				(1,656)
Accounts receivable, net	22,439				23,346
Products & Services | Trade accounts receivable
Accounts Receivable, net
0-60 Days	16,126				15,343
61-120 Days	6,690				6,434
121-180 Days	3,031				2,193
Over 180 Days	1,538				1,032
Accounts receivable, before allowances	$ 27,385				$ 25,002