Quarterly Data (Unaudited) Tables 1 - 2 (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ 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
Quarterly Financial Data
Net operating revenues	$ 879.3	$ 778.6	$ 764.4	$ 740.6	$ 613.4	$ 596.9	$ 604.4	$ 591.2	$ 3,162.9	$ 2,405.9	$ 2,273.2
Operating earnings	135.5	121.2	123.4	105.6	96.5	100.7	115.4	105.8	485.7	418.4
Provision for income tax expense	43.5	35.9	32.2	30.3	19.3	22.1	36.5	32.8	141.9	110.7	12.7
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
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0.7	0.3	(1.6)	(0.3)	2.7	(0.9)	3.8	(0.1)	(0.9)	5.5	(1.1)
Net income	65.8	67.8	60.2	59.0	57.5	64.8	97.9	61.5	252.8	281.7	381.4
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(18.8)	(17.1)	(17.3)	(16.5)	(15.4)	(14.7)	(14.8)	(14.8)	(69.7)	(59.7)	(57.8)
Net income attributable to HealthSouth	$ 47.0	$ 50.7	$ 42.9	$ 42.5	$ 42.1	$ 50.1	$ 83.1	$ 46.7	$ 183.1	$ 222.0	$ 323.6
Basic earnings (loss) 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	0.52	0.56	0.47	0.47	0.46	0.55	0.93	0.51	2.02	2.46	2.58
Diluted earnings (loss) 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