UNAUDITED SUMMARIZED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION Operating Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ 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, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
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
Net income (loss) attributable to Amedisys, Inc.	$ 27,500	$ 31,400	$ 33,300	$ 27,200	$ (3,800)	$ 14,600	$ 4,500	$ 15,100	$ 119,346	$ 30,301	$ 37,261
Net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders - basic (usd per share)	$ 0.86	$ 0.99	$ 1.00	$ 0.80	$ (0.11)	$ 0.43	$ 0.13	$ 0.45	$ 3.64	$ 0.90	$ 1.12
Net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders - diluted (usd per share)	$ 0.84	$ 0.96	$ 0.98	$ 0.79	$ (0.11)	$ 0.42	$ 0.13	$ 0.44	$ 3.55	$ 0.88	$ 1.10
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Effect of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, net of income taxes					$ 21,400
Securities Class Action Lawsuit [Member]
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Legal fees, net of income taxes							$ 18,000