SEGMENT INFORMATION - Operating Income of Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue	$ 434,400	$ 417,300	$ 411,600	$ 399,300	$ 398,000	$ 373,700	$ 374,900	$ 364,700		$ 1,662,578	$ 1,511,272	$ 1,419,261
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization										992,863	903,377	834,381
General and administrative expenses										501,300	482,300	503,400
Depreciation and amortization										13,261	17,123	19,678
Securities Class Action Lawsuit settlement, net										0	28,712	0
Asset impairment charge									$ 4,400	0	1,323	4,432
Operating expenses										1,507,430	1,432,748	1,361,921
Operating income (loss)										155,148	78,524	57,340
Home Health [Member] | Reportable Business Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue										1,174,500	1,083,900	1,071,700
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization										722,100	670,900	643,700
General and administrative expenses										276,300	278,400	283,400
Depreciation and amortization										3,500	3,500	6,000
Securities Class Action Lawsuit settlement, net											0
Asset impairment charge											1,300	0
Operating expenses										1,001,900	954,100	933,100
Operating income (loss)										172,600	129,800	138,600
Hospice [Member] | Reportable Business Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue										410,900	367,800	311,900
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization										212,000	187,500	164,500
General and administrative expenses										84,600	76,600	70,200
Depreciation and amortization										1,100	900	1,300
Securities Class Action Lawsuit settlement, net											0
Asset impairment charge											0	0
Operating expenses										297,700	265,000	236,000
Operating income (loss)										113,200	102,800	75,900
Personal Care [Member] | Reportable Business Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue										77,200	59,600	35,700
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization										58,800	45,000	26,300
General and administrative expenses										12,800	9,500	5,800
Depreciation and amortization										300	200	0
Securities Class Action Lawsuit settlement, net											0
Asset impairment charge											0	0
Operating expenses										71,900	54,700	32,100
Operating income (loss)										5,300	4,900	3,600
Other [Member] | Other Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue										0	0	0
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization										0	0	0
General and administrative expenses										127,600	117,800	144,000
Depreciation and amortization										8,400	12,500	12,400
Securities Class Action Lawsuit settlement, net											28,700
Asset impairment charge											0	4,400
Operating expenses										136,000	159,000	160,800
Operating income (loss)										$ (136,000)	$ (159,000)	$ (160,800)