Earnings Per Common Share - Table 1 (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$ 65.1	$ 67.5	$ 61.8	$ 59.3	$ 54.8	$ 65.7	$ 94.1	$ 61.6	$ 253.7	$ 276.2	$ 382.5
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests included in continuing operations									(69.7)	(59.7)	(57.8)
Less: Income allocated to participating securities									(1.0)	(2.3)	(3.4)
Less: Convertible perpetual preferred stock dividends									(1.6)	(6.3)	(21.0)
Less: Repurchase of convertible perpetual preferred stock									0.0	0.0	(71.6)
Income from continuing operations attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders									181.4	207.9	228.7
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax, attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders									(0.9)	5.5	(1.1)
Less: Income from discontinued operations allocated to participating securities									0.0	(0.1)	0.0
Net income attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders									$ 180.5	$ 213.3	$ 227.6
Denominator:
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding									89.4	86.8	88.1
Basic earnings per share attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders
Continuing operations	$ 0.51	$ 0.56	$ 0.49	$ 0.47	$ 0.43	$ 0.56	$ 0.89	$ 0.51	$ 2.03	$ 2.40	$ 2.59
Discontinued operations	$ 0.01	$ 0.00	$ (0.02)	$ 0.00	$ 0.03	$ (0.01)	$ 0.04	$ 0.00	(0.01)	0.06	(0.01)
Net income									$ 2.02	$ 2.46	$ 2.58
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$ 65.1	$ 67.5	$ 61.8	$ 59.3	$ 54.8	$ 65.7	$ 94.1	$ 61.6	$ 253.7	$ 276.2	$ 382.5
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests included in continuing operations									(69.7)	(59.7)	(57.8)
Add: Interest on convertible debt, net of tax									9.4	9.0	1.0
Income from continuing operations attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders									193.4	225.5	325.7
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax, attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders									(0.9)	5.5	(1.1)
Net income attributable to HealthSouth common stockholders									$ 192.5	$ 231.0	$ 324.6
Denominator:
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding									101.0	100.7	102.1
Diluted earnings per share attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders:
Continuing operations	$ 0.48	$ 0.52	$ 0.47	$ 0.44	$ 0.41	$ 0.53	$ 0.81	$ 0.48	$ 1.92	$ 2.24	$ 2.59
Discontinued operations	0.01	0.00	(0.02)	0.00	0.03	(0.01)	0.04	0.00	(0.01)	0.05	(0.01)
Net income	$ 0.49	$ 0.52	$ 0.45	$ 0.44	$ 0.44	$ 0.52	$ 0.85	$ 0.48	$ 1.91	$ 2.29	$ 2.58