Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Income Statement Tables (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
Net operating revenues	$ 920.7		$ 764.4	$ 1,830.5	$ 1,505.0
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	(15.4)		(10.9)	(31.9)	(22.5)
Net operating revenues less provision for doubtful accounts	905.3		753.5	1,798.6	1,482.5
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	486.1		401.8	972.2	786.9
Other operating expenses	121.5		104.2	240.7	207.4
Occupancy costs	17.9		12.5	35.9	24.6
Supplies	34.4		31.7	69.4	63.1
General and administrative expenses	34.4		32.1	66.3	66.7
Depreciation and amortization	42.9		32.7	85.3	64.6
Government, class action, and related settlements	0.0		0.0	0.0	8.0
Professional fees - accounting, tax, and legal	1.7		0.1	1.9	2.3
Total operating expenses	738.9		615.1	1,471.7	1,223.6
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	2.4	$ 2.4	18.8	4.8	20.0
Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees	43.4		30.9	88.0	62.7
Other income	(0.7)		(3.0)	(1.3)	(3.5)
Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates	(2.4)		(2.3)	(4.8)	(3.9)
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Management fees	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense	123.7		94.0	240.2	183.6
Provision for income tax (benefit) expense	42.4		32.2	82.1	62.5
Income from continuing operations	81.3		61.8	158.1	121.1
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(0.1)		(1.6)	(0.2)	(1.9)
Net income	81.2		60.2	157.9	119.2
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(18.6)		(17.3)	(37.3)	(33.8)
Net income attributable to HealthSouth	62.6		42.9	120.6	85.4
Comprehensive income	81.4		60.3	158.2	119.4
Comprehensive income attributable to HealthSouth	62.8		43.0	120.9	85.6
HealthSouth Corporation [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
Net operating revenues	5.1		5.1	10.0	10.4
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Net operating revenues less provision for doubtful accounts	5.1		5.1	10.0	10.4
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	11.0		12.2	22.3	20.3
Other operating expenses	6.9		6.7	12.5	16.2
Occupancy costs	0.9		1.0	1.8	2.1
Supplies	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
General and administrative expenses	31.2		31.5	64.3	65.8
Depreciation and amortization	2.4		2.4	4.8	4.7
Government, class action, and related settlements					8.0
Professional fees - accounting, tax, and legal	1.7		0.1	1.9	2.3
Total operating expenses	54.1		53.9	107.6	119.4
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	2.4		18.8	4.8	20.0
Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees	36.6		28.4	75.4	57.6
Other income	(4.9)		(4.8)	(9.6)	(7.1)
Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	(88.7)		(81.7)	(174.4)	(160.1)
Management fees	(33.8)		(29.3)	(68.0)	(57.8)
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense	39.4		19.8	74.2	38.4
Provision for income tax (benefit) expense	(23.3)		(24.7)	(46.6)	(48.9)
Income from continuing operations	62.7		44.5	120.8	87.3
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(0.1)		(1.6)	(0.2)	(1.9)
Net income	62.6		42.9	120.6	85.4
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Net income attributable to HealthSouth	62.6		42.9	120.6	85.4
Comprehensive income	62.8		43.0	120.9	85.6
Comprehensive income attributable to HealthSouth	62.8		43.0	120.9	85.6
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
Net operating revenues	546.1		460.0	1,088.5	907.7
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	(10.6)		(8.1)	(22.4)	(17.0)
Net operating revenues less provision for doubtful accounts	535.5		451.9	1,066.1	890.7
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	248.7		212.1	500.0	418.2
Other operating expenses	76.7		67.0	152.6	128.7
Occupancy costs	22.4		15.8	44.8	30.4
Supplies	22.4		20.7	45.2	41.1
General and administrative expenses	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Depreciation and amortization	25.9		19.4	51.8	38.3
Government, class action, and related settlements					0.0
Professional fees - accounting, tax, and legal	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Total operating expenses	396.1		335.0	794.4	656.7
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees	5.7		2.1	10.9	4.4
Other income	(0.1)		(0.1)	(0.2)	(0.1)
Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates	(2.2)		(2.3)	(4.4)	(3.9)
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	(10.4)		(8.8)	(19.9)	(17.4)
Management fees	25.9		21.8	51.7	43.1
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense	120.5		104.2	233.6	207.9
Provision for income tax (benefit) expense	48.1		39.7	93.2	79.1
Income from continuing operations	72.4		64.5	140.4	128.8
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Net income	72.4		64.5	140.4	128.8
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Net income attributable to HealthSouth	72.4		64.5	140.4	128.8
Comprehensive income	72.4		64.5	140.4	128.8
Comprehensive income attributable to HealthSouth	72.4		64.5	140.4	128.8
Nonguarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
Net operating revenues	398.9		325.0	790.3	637.3
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	(4.8)		(2.8)	(9.5)	(5.5)
Net operating revenues less provision for doubtful accounts	394.1		322.2	780.8	631.8
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	231.0		181.7	459.1	356.7
Other operating expenses	49.4		40.7	98.1	83.1
Occupancy costs	7.9		7.0	15.9	13.6
Supplies	12.0		11.0	24.2	22.0
General and administrative expenses	3.2		0.6	2.0	0.9
Depreciation and amortization	14.6		10.9	28.7	21.6
Government, class action, and related settlements					0.0
Professional fees - accounting, tax, and legal	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Total operating expenses	318.1		251.9	628.0	497.9
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees	6.0		2.9	11.4	5.6
Other income	(0.6)		(0.6)	(1.2)	(1.2)
Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates	(0.2)		0.0	(0.4)	0.0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Management fees	7.9		7.5	16.3	14.7
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense	62.9		60.5	126.7	114.8
Provision for income tax (benefit) expense	17.6		17.2	35.5	32.3
Income from continuing operations	45.3		43.3	91.2	82.5
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Net income	45.3		43.3	91.2	82.5
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(18.6)		(17.3)	(37.3)	(33.8)
Net income attributable to HealthSouth	26.7		26.0	53.9	48.7
Comprehensive income	45.3		43.3	91.2	82.5
Comprehensive income attributable to HealthSouth	26.7		26.0	53.9	48.7
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
Net operating revenues	(29.4)		(25.7)	(58.3)	(50.4)
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Net operating revenues less provision for doubtful accounts	(29.4)		(25.7)	(58.3)	(50.4)
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	(4.6)		(4.2)	(9.2)	(8.3)
Other operating expenses	(11.5)		(10.2)	(22.5)	(20.6)
Occupancy costs	(13.3)		(11.3)	(26.6)	(21.5)
Supplies	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
General and administrative expenses	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Depreciation and amortization	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Government, class action, and related settlements					0.0
Professional fees - accounting, tax, and legal	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Total operating expenses	(29.4)		(25.7)	(58.3)	(50.4)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees	(4.9)		(2.5)	(9.7)	(4.9)
Other income	4.9		2.5	9.7	4.9
Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	99.1		90.5	194.3	177.5
Management fees	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense	(99.1)		(90.5)	(194.3)	(177.5)
Provision for income tax (benefit) expense	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Income from continuing operations	(99.1)		(90.5)	(194.3)	(177.5)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Net income	(99.1)		(90.5)	(194.3)	(177.5)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Net income attributable to HealthSouth	(99.1)		(90.5)	(194.3)	(177.5)
Comprehensive income	(99.1)		(90.5)	(194.3)	(177.5)
Comprehensive income attributable to HealthSouth	$ (99.1)		$ (90.5)	$ (194.3)	$ (177.5)