Earnings per Common Share - Table 1 (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$ 81.3	$ 61.8	$ 158.1	$ 121.1
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests included in continuing operations	(18.6)	(17.3)	(37.3)	(33.8)
Less: Income allocated to participating securities	(0.2)	(0.3)	(0.4)	(0.6)
Less: Convertible perpetual preferred stock dividends	0.0	0.0	0.0	(1.6)
Income from continuing operations attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders	62.5	44.2	120.4	85.1
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(0.1)	(1.6)	(0.2)	(1.9)
Net income attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders	$ 62.4	$ 42.6	$ 120.2	$ 83.2
Denominator:
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding	89.3	89.8	89.4	88.4
Basic earnings per share attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders:
Continuing operations	$ 0.70	$ 0.49	$ 1.34	$ 0.96
Discontinued operations	0.00	(0.02)	0.00	(0.02)
Net Income	$ 0.70	$ 0.47	$ 1.34	$ 0.94
Numerator
Income from continuing operations	$ 81.3	$ 61.8	$ 158.1	$ 121.1
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests included in continuing operations	(18.6)	(17.3)	(37.3)	(33.8)
Add: Interest on convertible debt, net of tax	2.4	2.3	4.8	4.6
Income from continuing operations attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders	65.1	46.8	125.6	91.9
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(0.1)	(1.6)	(0.2)	(1.9)
Net income attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders	$ 65.0	$ 45.2	$ 125.4	$ 90.0
Denominator
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding	99.4	101.5	99.4	101.3
Diluted earnings per share attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders:
Continuing operations	$ 0.65	$ 0.47	$ 1.26	$ 0.91
Discontinued operations	0.00	(0.02)	0.00	(0.02)
Net Income	$ 0.65	$ 0.45	$ 1.26	$ 0.89