CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net service revenue	$ 417,335	$ 373,704	$ 1,228,200	$ 1,113,311
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	249,739	227,269	730,612	664,139
General and administrative expenses:
Salaries and benefits	79,367	77,130	232,213	226,532
Non-cash compensation	4,842	3,558	12,653	11,788
Other	40,335	38,189	124,119	120,223
Depreciation and amortization	3,164	4,185	9,882	13,139
Securities Class Action Lawsuit settlement, net	0	0	0	28,712
Operating expenses	377,447	350,331	1,109,479	1,064,533
Operating income	39,888	23,373	118,721	48,778
Other income (expense):
Interest income	29	44	263	104
Interest expense	(1,991)	(1,335)	(5,834)	(3,600)
Equity in earnings from equity method investments	1,625	900	6,461	3,149
Miscellaneous, net	1,822	1,043	2,782	3,282
Total other income, net	1,485	652	3,672	2,935
Income before income taxes	41,373	24,025	122,393	51,713
Income tax expense	(9,825)	(9,364)	(29,984)	(17,324)
Net income	31,548	14,661	92,409	34,389
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(171)	(103)	(524)	(240)
Net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc.	$ 31,377	$ 14,558	$ 91,885	$ 34,149
Basic earnings per common share:
Net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders, basic (usd per share)	$ 0.99	$ 0.43	$ 2.78	$ 1.02
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic (shares)	31,815	33,838	33,075	33,640
Diluted earnings per common share:
Net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders, diluted (usd per share)	$ 0.96	$ 0.42	$ 2.71	$ 1.00
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted (shares)	32,691	34,363	33,852	34,255