NATURE OF OPERATIONS, CONSOLIDATION AND PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
NATURE OF OPERATIONS, CONSOLIDATION AND PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS	NATURE OF OPERATIONS, CONSOLIDATION AND PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Amedisys, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, referred to herein as “Amedisys,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a multi-state provider of home health, hospice and personal care services with approximately 73%, 76% and 79% of our revenue derived from Medicare for 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. As of December 31, 2018, we owned and operated 323 Medicare-certified home health care centers, 84 Medicare-certified hospice care centers and 12 personal-care care centers in 34 states within the United States and the District of Columbia. Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and ASU 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date (collectively, "ASC 606"), the new accounting standards issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") on revenue recognition, using the full retrospective method. ASC 606 outlines a single comprehensive model to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. The standards supersede existing revenue recognition requirements and eliminate most industry-specific guidance from U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("U.S. GAAP"). The core principle of the revenue recognition standard is to require an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which it expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. As a result of the Company's adoption of ASC 606, the revenue and related estimated uncollectible amounts owed to us by non-Medicare payors that were historically classified as provision for doubtful accounts are now considered a price concession in determining net service revenue. Accordingly, the Company reports uncollectible balances due from third-party payors and uncollectible balances associated with patient responsibility as a reduction of the transaction price and therefore, as a reduction in net service revenue (or as it relates to Hospice room and board, an increase in cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization) when historically these amounts were classified as provision for doubtful accounts within operating expenses within our consolidated statements of operations. In addition, the adoption of ASC 606 resulted in increased disclosure, including qualitative and quantitative disclosures about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business, which provides guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as an acquisition (or disposal) of assets or a business. The ASU is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We adopted this ASU effective January 1, 2018, on a prospective basis. The impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures will depend on the facts and circumstances of any specific future transactions as evaluated under the new framework. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) - Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which eliminates the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill to measure a goodwill impairment charge (Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test). Instead, impairment will be measured using the difference between the carrying amount and the fair value of the reporting unit. The ASU is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. We adopted this ASU effective January 1, 2018, on a prospective basis and will apply this guidance to our future tests of goodwill impairment. In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, which provides specific guidance on eight cash flow classification issues not specifically addressed by U.S. GAAP. The ASU is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The standard should be applied using a retrospective transition method unless it is impractical to do so for some of the issues. In such case, the amendments for those issues would be applied prospectively as of the earliest date practicable. Our adoption of this standard on January 1, 2018, using a retrospective transition method for each period presented, did not have an effect on our consolidated financial statements. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvement to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which simplified the accounting for share-based payment award transactions, including income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liability, and classification within the statement of cash flows. The ASU was effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. We adopted this ASU effective January 1, 2017, and as a result, we recorded a $0.4 million increase to our non-current deferred tax asset and retained earnings for tax benefits that were not previously recognized under the prior rules. Additionally, on a prospective basis, we recorded excess tax benefits as a discrete item in our income tax provision within our consolidated statements of operations. We recorded excess tax benefits of $3.2 million within our consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2017. Historically, these amounts were recorded as additional paid-in capital in our consolidated balance sheet. We also elected to prospectively apply the change to the presentation of cash payments made to taxing authorities on the employees' behalf for shares withheld upon stock vesting within our consolidated statements of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2017. We have also elected to continue our current policy of estimating forfeitures of stock-based compensation awards at grant date and revising in subsequent periods to reflect actual forfeitures. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which requires lessees to recognize a lease liability and right-of-use asset ("ROU asset") for all leases with a term greater than twelve months and to disclose key information about leasing arrangements. Topic 842 was subsequently amended by ASU 2018-01, Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842; ASU 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases; and ASU 2018-11, Targeted Improvements (collectively, "Topic 842"). Under Topic 842, leases will be classified as either financing or operating. The classification will determine the pattern of expense recognition and classification within the income statement. Topic 842 is effective for us on January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We expect to adopt the new standard on the effective date using a modified retrospective transition approach, which requires the new standard to be applied to all leases existing at the date of initial application. An entity may choose to use either (1) its effective date or (2) the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements as its date of initial application. We will use the effective date as our date of initial application. Consequently, financial information will not be updated and the disclosures required under the new standard will not be provided for dates and periods before January 1, 2019. The new standard provides several optional practical expedients that can be adopted at transition. We expect to elect the "package of practical expedients," which allows us to not reassess our prior conclusions regarding lease identification, lease classification and initial direct costs. We do not expect to elect the use-of-hindsight or the practical expedient pertaining to land easements; the latter not being applicable to us. We expect adoption of this standard to have a material effect on our financial statements. We are still evaluating the overall impact of adoption; however, we currently believe the most significant effects relate to (1) the recognition of new ROU assets and lease liabilities on our balance sheet for our real estate and fleet operating leases; and (2) significant new disclosures about our leasing activities. We do not expect a significant change in our leasing activities between now and adoption. On adoption, we are expecting to recognize additional operating liabilities of approximately $80 million, with corresponding ROU assets of approximately the same amount, based on the present value of the remaining minimum rental payments under current leasing arrangements for our existing operating leases. The new standard also provides practical expedients for an entity’s ongoing accounting. We are planning to elect the practical expedient that allows us to not separate lease and non-lease components for all of our leases. We are also planning to apply the short-term lease recognition exemption to certain information technology leases; therefore, we will not recognize ROU assets and lease liabilities for these leases. Use of Estimates Our accounting and reporting policies conform with U.S. GAAP. In preparing the consolidated financial statements, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that impact the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates. Reclassifications and Comparability Certain reclassifications have been made to prior periods’ financial statements in order to conform to the current period’s presentation. Effective January 1, 2018, we adopted ASC 606 on a full retrospective basis which required the reclassification of certain previously reported results. See Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for further details on the impact of the adoption of ASC 606. Principles of Consolidation These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Amedisys, Inc., and our wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in our accompanying consolidated financial statements, and business combinations accounted for as purchases have been included in our consolidated financial statements from their respective dates of acquisition. In addition to our wholly owned subsidiaries, we also have certain equity investments that are accounted for as set forth below. Investments We consolidate investments when the entity is a variable interest entity and we are the primary beneficiary or if we have controlling interests in the entity, which is generally ownership in excess of 50%. Third party equity interests in our consolidated joint ventures are reflected as noncontrolling interests in our consolidated financial statements. During 2016, we sold a 30% interest in one of our care centers while maintaining a controlling interest in the newly formed joint venture; we repurchased the 30% interest during 2018. We account for investments in entities in which we have the ability to exercise significant influence under the equity method if we hold 50% or less of the voting stock and the entity is not a variable interest entity in which we are the primary beneficiary. During 2018, we made a $7.0 million investment in a healthcare analytics company; this investment will be accounted for under the equity method. The book value of investments that we account for under the equity method of accounting is $35.1 million and $26.4 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively and is reflected in other assets within our consolidated balance sheets. We account for investments in entities in which we have less than a 20% ownership interest under the cost method of accounting if we do not have the ability to exercise significant influence over the investee.

NATURE OF OPERATIONS, CONSOLIDATION AND PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Amedisys, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, referred to herein as “Amedisys,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a multi-state provider of home health, hospice and personal care services with approximately 73%, 76% and 79% of our revenue derived from Medicare for 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. As of December 31, 2018, we owned and operated 323 Medicare-certified home health care centers, 84 Medicare-certified hospice care centers and 12 personal-care care centers in 34 states within the United States and the District of Columbia.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and ASU 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date (collectively, "ASC 606"), the new accounting standards issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") on revenue recognition, using the full retrospective method. ASC 606 outlines a single comprehensive model to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. The standards supersede existing revenue recognition requirements and eliminate most industry-specific guidance from U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("U.S. GAAP"). The core principle of the revenue recognition standard is to require an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which it expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. As a result of the Company's adoption of ASC 606, the revenue and related estimated uncollectible amounts owed to us by non-Medicare payors that were historically classified as provision for doubtful accounts are now considered a price concession in determining net service revenue. Accordingly, the Company reports uncollectible balances due from third-party payors and uncollectible balances associated with patient responsibility as a reduction of the transaction price and therefore, as a reduction in net service revenue (or as it relates to Hospice room and board, an increase in cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization) when historically these amounts were classified as provision for doubtful accounts within operating expenses within our consolidated statements of operations. In addition, the adoption of ASC 606 resulted in increased disclosure, including qualitative and quantitative disclosures about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business, which provides guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as an acquisition (or disposal) of assets or a business. The ASU is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We adopted this ASU effective January 1, 2018, on a prospective basis. The impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures will depend on the facts and circumstances of any specific future transactions as evaluated under the new framework.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) - Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which eliminates the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill to measure a goodwill impairment charge (Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test). Instead, impairment will be measured using the difference between the carrying amount and the fair value of the reporting unit. The ASU is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. We adopted this ASU effective January 1, 2018, on a prospective basis and will apply this guidance to our future tests of goodwill impairment.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, which provides specific guidance on eight cash flow classification issues not specifically addressed by U.S. GAAP. The ASU is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The standard should be applied using a retrospective transition method unless it is impractical to do so for some of the issues. In such case, the amendments for those issues would be applied prospectively as of the earliest date practicable. Our adoption of this standard on January 1, 2018, using a retrospective transition method for each period presented, did not have an effect on our consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvement to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which simplified the accounting for share-based payment award transactions, including income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liability, and classification within the statement of cash flows. The ASU was effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. We adopted this ASU effective January 1, 2017, and as a result, we recorded a $0.4 million increase to our non-current deferred tax asset and retained earnings for tax benefits that were not previously recognized under the prior rules. Additionally, on a prospective basis, we recorded excess tax benefits as a discrete item in our income tax provision within our consolidated statements of operations. We recorded excess tax benefits of $3.2 million within our consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2017. Historically, these amounts were recorded as additional paid-in capital in our consolidated balance sheet. We also elected to prospectively apply the change to the presentation of cash payments made to taxing authorities on the employees' behalf for shares withheld upon stock vesting within our consolidated statements of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2017. We have also elected to continue our current policy of estimating forfeitures of stock-based compensation awards at grant date and revising in subsequent periods to reflect actual forfeitures.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which requires lessees to recognize a lease liability and right-of-use asset ("ROU asset") for all leases with a term greater than twelve months and to disclose key information about leasing arrangements. Topic 842 was subsequently amended by ASU 2018-01, Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842; ASU 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases; and ASU 2018-11, Targeted Improvements (collectively, "Topic 842"). Under Topic 842, leases will be classified as either financing or operating. The classification will determine the pattern of expense recognition and classification within the income statement.

Topic 842 is effective for us on January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We expect to adopt the new standard on the effective date using a modified retrospective transition approach, which requires the new standard to be applied to all leases existing at the date of initial application. An entity may choose to use either (1) its effective date or (2) the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements as its date of initial application. We will use the effective date as our date of initial application. Consequently, financial information will not be updated and the disclosures required under the new standard will not be provided for dates and periods before January 1, 2019.

The new standard provides several optional practical expedients that can be adopted at transition. We expect to elect the "package of practical expedients," which allows us to not reassess our prior conclusions regarding lease identification, lease classification and initial direct costs. We do not expect to elect the use-of-hindsight or the practical expedient pertaining to land easements; the latter not being applicable to us.

We expect adoption of this standard to have a material effect on our financial statements. We are still evaluating the overall impact of adoption; however, we currently believe the most significant effects relate to (1) the recognition of new ROU assets and lease liabilities on our balance sheet for our real estate and fleet operating leases; and (2) significant new disclosures about our leasing activities. We do not expect a significant change in our leasing activities between now and adoption.

On adoption, we are expecting to recognize additional operating liabilities of approximately $80 million, with corresponding ROU assets of approximately the same amount, based on the present value of the remaining minimum rental payments under current leasing arrangements for our existing operating leases.

The new standard also provides practical expedients for an entity’s ongoing accounting. We are planning to elect the practical expedient that allows us to not separate lease and non-lease components for all of our leases. We are also planning to apply the short-term lease recognition exemption to certain information technology leases; therefore, we will not recognize ROU assets and lease liabilities for these leases.

Use of Estimates

Our accounting and reporting policies conform with U.S. GAAP. In preparing the consolidated financial statements, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that impact the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.

Reclassifications and Comparability

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior periods’ financial statements in order to conform to the current period’s presentation. Effective January 1, 2018, we adopted ASC 606 on a full retrospective basis which required the reclassification of certain previously reported results. See Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for further details on the impact of the adoption of ASC 606.

Principles of Consolidation

These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Amedisys, Inc., and our wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in our accompanying consolidated financial statements, and business combinations accounted for as purchases have been included in our consolidated financial statements from their respective dates of acquisition. In addition to our wholly owned subsidiaries, we also have certain equity investments that are accounted for as set forth below.

Investments

We consolidate investments when the entity is a variable interest entity and we are the primary beneficiary or if we have controlling interests in the entity, which is generally ownership in excess of 50%. Third party equity interests in our consolidated joint ventures are reflected as noncontrolling interests in our consolidated financial statements. During 2016, we sold a 30% interest in one of our care centers while maintaining a controlling interest in the newly formed joint venture; we repurchased the 30% interest during 2018.

We account for investments in entities in which we have the ability to exercise significant influence under the equity method if we hold 50% or less of the voting stock and the entity is not a variable interest entity in which we are the primary beneficiary. During 2018, we made a $7.0 million investment in a healthcare analytics company; this investment will be accounted for under the equity method. The book value of investments that we account for under the equity method of accounting is $35.1 million and $26.4 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively and is reflected in other assets within our consolidated balance sheets.

We account for investments in entities in which we have less than a 20% ownership interest under the cost method of accounting if we do not have the ability to exercise significant influence over the investee.