COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands							1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended		27 Months Ended
	Jun. 27, 2016 patient	Jan. 18, 2016 USD ($) claim	Nov. 03, 2015 patient	May 21, 2015 patient	Apr. 23, 2014	Jun. 06, 2011 beneficiary	Aug. 31, 2017 USD ($) claim	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2010 beneficiary	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Corporate integrity agreement term (years)					5 years
Securities Class Action Lawsuit settlement, net								$ 0	$ 0		$ 0	$ 28,712
Patient accounts receivable								195,030			195,030			$ 201,196
Health insurance retention limit											1,000
Workers compensation insurance retention limit											500
Professional liability insurance retention limit											300
Hospice
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Securities Class Action Lawsuit settlement, net												0
Home Health
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Securities Class Action Lawsuit settlement, net												$ 0
South Carolina | Hospice
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of beneficiaries | beneficiary													30
Indemnity receivable related to amounts withheld prior to August 2009								4,900			4,900
South Carolina | Hospice | Extrapolated
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of beneficiaries | beneficiary						16
South Carolina | Hospice | Unfavorable
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Recovery amount of overpayment made to subsidiary		$ 3,700
Recovery amount of overpayment made to subsidiary including interest		$ 5,600
Number of claims submitted by subsidiary | claim		9
Recovery amount of over payment made to subsidiary including interest withheld								5,700			5,700
US Department of Justice | Massachusetts | Hospice
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of patients | patient				53
US Department of Justice | Morgantown, West Virginia | Hospice
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of patients | patient			66
US Department of Justice | Parkersburg, West Virginia | Hospice
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of patients | patient	68
Securities Class Action Lawsuit [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments for legal settlements									28,700
Loss contingency accrual										$ 43,700
Settlement amount to be paid by company's insurance carriers										15,000
Securities Class Action Lawsuit settlement, net										$ 28,700
Safeguard Zone Program Integrity Contractor | Florida
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency accrual								17,400			17,400
Indemnity receivable								10,900			10,900
Indemnification amount								12,600			12,600
Safeguard Zone Program Integrity Contractor | Florida | Infinity HomeCare
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Indemnification amount								12,600			12,600
Safeguard Zone Program Integrity Contractor | Florida | Home Health
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Florida ZPIC revenue reduction									6,500
Safeguard Zone Program Integrity Contractor | Florida | Home Health | Minimum [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Recovery amount of overpayment made to subsidiary								6,500			6,500
Safeguard Zone Program Integrity Contractor | Florida | Home Health | Maximum [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Recovery amount of overpayment made to subsidiary							$ 38,800	29,300			29,300
Safeguard Zone Program Integrity Contractor | Florida | Home Health | Infinity HomeCare
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Patient accounts receivable								1,600			1,600
Safeguard Zone Program Integrity Contractor | Lakeland, Florida | Home Health
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Recovery amount of overpayment made to subsidiary							$ 34,000	26,000			26,000
Number of claims submitted by subsidiary | claim							72
Actual claims payment							$ 200
Error rate (percent)							100.00%
Safeguard Zone Program Integrity Contractor | Clearwater, Florida | Home Health
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Recovery amount of overpayment made to subsidiary							$ 4,800	3,300			3,300
Number of claims submitted by subsidiary | claim							70
Actual claims payment							$ 200
Error rate (percent)							100.00%
Internal Audit Compliance Review [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency accrual								$ 6,500			$ 6,500
Company's insurance carriers [Member] | Securities Class Action Lawsuit [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments for legal settlements									$ 15,000