Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Income Statement Tables (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
Net operating revenues	$ 995.6		$ 926.8	$ 2,951.7	$ 2,757.3
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	(12.6)		(14.8)	(42.7)	(46.7)
Net operating revenues less provision for doubtful accounts	983.0		912.0	2,909.0	2,710.6
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	542.1		497.4	1,600.0	1,469.6
Other operating expenses	137.6		126.3	397.2	367.0
Occupancy costs	18.6		17.6	54.8	53.5
Supplies	36.5		34.8	110.6	104.2
General and administrative expenses	39.7		30.3	128.6	96.6
Depreciation and amortization	46.2		43.5	137.2	128.8
Professional fees - accounting, tax, and legal	0.0		0.0	0.0	1.9
Total operating expenses	820.7		749.9	2,428.4	2,221.6
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0.3	$ 10.4	2.6	10.7	7.4
Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees	36.8		42.5	118.5	130.5
Other income	(1.0)		(0.8)	(2.9)	(2.1)
Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates	(2.1)		(2.5)	(6.2)	(7.3)
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	128.3		120.3	360.5	360.5
Provision for income tax (benefit) expense	43.1		42.1	111.4	124.2
Income from continuing operations	85.2		78.2	249.1	236.3
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(0.1)		(0.1)	(0.2)	(0.3)
Net income	85.1		78.1	248.9	236.0
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(19.2)		(16.4)	(53.2)	(53.7)
Net income attributable to HealthSouth	65.9		61.7	195.7	182.3
Comprehensive income	85.1		78.0	249.2	236.2
Comprehensive income attributable to HealthSouth	65.9		61.6	196.0	182.5
HealthSouth Corporation [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
Net operating revenues	5.3		4.9	15.9	14.9
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Net operating revenues less provision for doubtful accounts	5.3		4.9	15.9	14.9
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	9.1		10.4	29.1	32.7
Other operating expenses	8.0		6.4	23.8	18.9
Occupancy costs	0.4		0.6	1.4	2.4
Supplies	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
General and administrative expenses	35.6		30.4	104.7	94.7
Depreciation and amortization	2.0		2.3	6.7	7.1
Professional fees - accounting, tax, and legal					1.9
Total operating expenses	55.1		50.1	165.7	157.7
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0.3		2.6	10.7	7.4
Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees	30.8		36.3	100.5	111.7
Other income	(5.7)		(5.1)	(16.5)	(14.6)
Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	(85.0)		(85.7)	(256.4)	(259.7)
Management fees	(35.8)		(33.9)	(107.8)	(101.9)
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense	45.6		40.6	119.7	114.3
Provision for income tax (benefit) expense	(20.4)		(21.2)	(76.2)	(68.3)
Income from continuing operations	66.0		61.8	195.9	182.6
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(0.1)		(0.1)	(0.2)	(0.3)
Net income	65.9		61.7	195.7	182.3
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Net income attributable to HealthSouth	65.9		61.7	195.7	182.3
Comprehensive income	65.9		61.6	196.0	182.5
Comprehensive income attributable to HealthSouth	65.9		61.6	196.0	182.5
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
Net operating revenues	555.2		541.8	1,693.9	1,621.2
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	(7.7)		(10.0)	(27.3)	(32.1)
Net operating revenues less provision for doubtful accounts	547.5		531.8	1,666.6	1,589.1
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	266.4		250.2	803.7	746.4
Other operating expenses	83.6		79.4	239.5	230.1
Occupancy costs	23.4		22.4	70.0	67.2
Supplies	22.4		22.4	69.4	67.1
General and administrative expenses	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Depreciation and amortization	25.8		25.9	77.3	77.3
Professional fees - accounting, tax, and legal					0.0
Total operating expenses	421.6		400.3	1,259.9	1,188.1
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees	5.3		5.4	15.9	16.3
Other income	(0.1)		(0.1)	(0.2)	(0.2)
Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates	(1.9)		(2.3)	(5.6)	(6.7)
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	(11.8)		(9.8)	(29.3)	(30.8)
Management fees	26.4		25.8	80.7	77.0
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense	108.0		112.5	345.2	345.4
Provision for income tax (benefit) expense	43.1		44.9	137.7	137.8
Income from continuing operations	64.9		67.6	207.5	207.6
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Net income	64.9		67.6	207.5	207.6
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Net income attributable to HealthSouth	64.9		67.6	207.5	207.6
Comprehensive income	64.9		67.6	207.5	207.6
Comprehensive income attributable to HealthSouth	64.9		67.6	207.5	207.6
Nonguarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
Net operating revenues	466.5		409.8	1,336.2	1,209.2
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	(4.9)		(4.8)	(15.4)	(14.6)
Net operating revenues less provision for doubtful accounts	461.6		405.0	1,320.8	1,194.6
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	271.9		241.4	783.0	704.2
Other operating expenses	58.2		52.3	170.2	152.4
Occupancy costs	8.7		7.9	25.6	23.8
Supplies	14.1		12.4	41.2	37.1
General and administrative expenses	4.1		(0.1)	23.9	1.9
Depreciation and amortization	18.4		15.3	53.2	44.4
Professional fees - accounting, tax, and legal					0.0
Total operating expenses	375.4		329.2	1,097.1	963.8
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees	6.3		5.8	18.1	17.2
Other income	(0.8)		(0.6)	(2.2)	(2.0)
Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates	(0.2)		(0.2)	(0.6)	(0.6)
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Management fees	9.4		8.1	27.1	24.9
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense	71.5		62.7	181.3	191.3
Provision for income tax (benefit) expense	20.4		18.4	49.9	54.7
Income from continuing operations	51.1		44.3	131.4	136.6
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Net income	51.1		44.3	131.4	136.6
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(19.2)		(16.4)	(53.2)	(53.7)
Net income attributable to HealthSouth	31.9		27.9	78.2	82.9
Comprehensive income	51.1		44.3	131.4	136.6
Comprehensive income attributable to HealthSouth	31.9		27.9	78.2	82.9
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
Net operating revenues	(31.4)		(29.7)	(94.3)	(88.0)
Less: Provision for doubtful accounts	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Net operating revenues less provision for doubtful accounts	(31.4)		(29.7)	(94.3)	(88.0)
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits	(5.3)		(4.6)	(15.8)	(13.7)
Other operating expenses	(12.2)		(11.8)	(36.3)	(34.4)
Occupancy costs	(13.9)		(13.3)	(42.2)	(39.9)
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
Professional fees - accounting, tax, and legal					0.0
Total operating expenses	(31.4)		(29.7)	(94.3)	(88.0)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees	(5.6)		(5.0)	(16.0)	(14.7)
Other income	5.6		5.0	16.0	14.7
Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates	96.8		95.5	285.7	290.5
Management fees	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense	(96.8)		(95.5)	(285.7)	(290.5)
Provision for income tax (benefit) expense	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Income from continuing operations	(96.8)		(95.5)	(285.7)	(290.5)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Net income	(96.8)		(95.5)	(285.7)	(290.5)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0.0		0.0	0.0	0.0
Net income attributable to HealthSouth	(96.8)		(95.5)	(285.7)	(290.5)
Comprehensive income	(96.8)		(95.5)	(285.7)	(290.5)
Comprehensive income attributable to HealthSouth	$ (96.8)		$ (95.5)	$ (285.7)	$ (290.5)