Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Income Statement Tables (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
Net operating revenues	$ 596.9	$ 564.0	$ 1,792.5	$ 1,701.1
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	(8.2)	(8.0)	(25.0)	(22.4)
Net operating revenues less provision for doubtful accounts	588.7	556.0	1,767.5	1,678.7
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	290.0	269.5	861.4	817.7
Other operating expenses	89.4	82.2	260.2	241.3
Occupancy costs	10.3	11.7	31.1	35.8
Supplies	26.6	25.5	82.0	78.3
General and administrative expenses	27.5	28.8	88.4	88.5
Depreciation and amortization	27.4	24.3	80.2	69.5
Government, class action, and related settlements	0	(21.3)	(0.8)	(23.3)
Professional fees - accounting, tax, and legal	4.0	4.2	7.6	7.8
Total operating expenses	475.2	424.9	1,410.1	1,315.6
Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees	27.8	25.3	83.5	73.9
Other income	(0.2)	(0.6)	(30.1)	(3.2)
Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates	(1.9)	(2.0)	(8.8)	(8.2)
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0
Management fees	0	0	0	0
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit)	87.8	108.4	312.8	300.6
Provision for income tax (benefit) expense	22.1	35.2	91.4	(17.8)
Income from continuing operations	65.7	73.2	221.4	318.4
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	(0.9)	(0.9)	2.8	(1.2)
Net income	64.8	72.3	224.2	317.2
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(14.7)	(14.1)	(44.3)	(42.5)
Net income attributable to HealthSouth	50.1	58.2	179.9	274.7
Comprehensive income	64.7	72.4	224.2	315.6
Comprehensive income attributable to HealthSouth	50.0	58.3	179.9	273.1
HealthSouth Corporation [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
Net operating revenues	4.0	3.0	11.5	9.0
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	0	0	0	0
Net operating revenues less provision for doubtful accounts	4.0	3.0	11.5	9.0
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	4.1	0.1	15.9	13.5
Other operating expenses	5.0	3.2	15.0	9.1
Occupancy costs	1.1	1.0	3.1	3.1
Supplies	0.1	0	0	0
General and administrative expenses	27.5	28.8	88.4	88.5
Depreciation and amortization	2.3	2.2	7.4	6.5
Government, class action, and related settlements		(21.3)	(0.8)	(23.3)
Professional fees - accounting, tax, and legal	4.0	4.2	7.6	7.8
Total operating expenses	44.1	18.2	136.6	105.2
Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees	25.7	22.4	76.3	66.8
Other income	0.1	(0.4)	(0.3)	(0.7)
Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates	0	(0.3)	0	(2.5)
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	(62.6)	(59.7)	(233.9)	(243.3)
Management fees	(26.8)	(25.2)	(80.7)	(76.6)
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit)	23.5	48.0	113.5	160.1
Provision for income tax (benefit) expense	(27.5)	(10.3)	(63.5)	(114.5)
Income from continuing operations	51.0	58.3	177.0	274.6
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	(0.9)	(0.1)	2.9	0.1
Net income	50.1	58.2	179.9	274.7
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to HealthSouth	50.1	58.2	179.9	274.7
Comprehensive income	50.0	58.3	179.9	273.1
Comprehensive income attributable to HealthSouth	50.0	58.3	179.9	273.1
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
Net operating revenues	424.5	399.7	1,286.4	1,215.1
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	(5.7)	(5.6)	(17.6)	(15.6)
Net operating revenues less provision for doubtful accounts	418.8	394.1	1,268.8	1,199.5
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	197.9	187.4	590.2	565.7
Other operating expenses	62.0	59.6	182.1	177.4
Occupancy costs	14.5	12.0	43.4	35.9
Supplies	18.6	17.9	57.9	55.1
General and administrative expenses	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	18.2	16.7	54.1	47.8
Government, class action, and related settlements		0	0	0
Professional fees - accounting, tax, and legal	0	0	0	0
Total operating expenses	311.2	293.6	927.7	881.9
Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees	1.7	2.4	5.9	5.7
Other income	0	0	(28.4)	(0.8)
Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates	(1.9)	(1.7)	(8.8)	(5.7)
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	(7.2)	(5.5)	(21.3)	(22.3)
Management fees	20.4	19.2	61.6	58.7
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit)	94.6	86.1	332.1	282.0
Provision for income tax (benefit) expense	39.2	34.9	122.0	69.7
Income from continuing operations	55.4	51.2	210.1	212.3
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(0.4)	0	(0.1)
Net income	55.4	50.8	210.1	212.2
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to HealthSouth	55.4	50.8	210.1	212.2
Comprehensive income	55.4	50.8	210.1	212.2
Comprehensive income attributable to HealthSouth	55.4	50.8	210.1	212.2
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
Net operating revenues	191.2	179.2	561.7	529.2
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	(2.5)	(2.4)	(7.4)	(6.8)
Net operating revenues less provision for doubtful accounts	188.7	176.8	554.3	522.4
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	91.8	85.6	266.6	249.4
Other operating expenses	31.8	27.9	90.0	79.8
Occupancy costs	4.3	4.5	13.5	13.1
Supplies	7.9	7.6	24.1	23.2
General and administrative expenses	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	6.9	5.4	18.7	15.2
Government, class action, and related settlements		0	0	0
Professional fees - accounting, tax, and legal	0	0	0	0
Total operating expenses	142.7	131.0	412.9	380.7
Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees	0.7	0.8	2.1	2.4
Other income	(0.6)	(0.5)	(2.2)	(2.7)
Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0
Management fees	6.4	6.0	19.1	17.9
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit)	39.5	39.5	122.4	124.1
Provision for income tax (benefit) expense	10.4	10.6	32.9	27.0
Income from continuing operations	29.1	28.9	89.5	97.1
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(0.4)	(0.1)	(1.2)
Net income	29.1	28.5	89.4	95.9
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(14.7)	(14.1)	(44.3)	(42.5)
Net income attributable to HealthSouth	14.4	14.4	45.1	53.4
Comprehensive income	29.1	28.5	89.4	95.9
Comprehensive income attributable to HealthSouth	14.4	14.4	45.1	53.4
Eliminating Entries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
Net operating revenues	(22.8)	(17.9)	(67.1)	(52.2)
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	0	0	0	0
Net operating revenues less provision for doubtful accounts	(22.8)	(17.9)	(67.1)	(52.2)
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	(3.8)	(3.6)	(11.3)	(10.9)
Other operating expenses	(9.4)	(8.5)	(26.9)	(25.0)
Occupancy costs	(9.6)	(5.8)	(28.9)	(16.3)
Supplies	0	0	0	0
General and administrative expenses	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Government, class action, and related settlements		0	0	0
Professional fees - accounting, tax, and legal	0	0	0	0
Total operating expenses	(22.8)	(17.9)	(67.1)	(52.2)
Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees	(0.3)	(0.3)	(0.8)	(1.0)
Other income	0.3	0.3	0.8	1.0
Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates	0	0	0	0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	69.8	65.2	255.2	265.6
Management fees	0	0	0	0
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense (benefit)	(69.8)	(65.2)	(255.2)	(265.6)
Provision for income tax (benefit) expense	0	0	0	0
Income from continuing operations	(69.8)	(65.2)	(255.2)	(265.6)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net income	(69.8)	(65.2)	(255.2)	(265.6)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to HealthSouth	(69.8)	(65.2)	(255.2)	(265.6)
Comprehensive income	(69.8)	(65.2)	(255.2)	(265.6)
Comprehensive income attributable to HealthSouth	$ (69.8)	$ (65.2)	$ (255.2)	$ (265.6)