CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net service revenue	$ 467,340	$ 399,262
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	275,274	238,309
General and administrative expenses:
Salaries and benefits	94,830	75,631
Non-cash compensation	6,615	4,044
Other	43,402	41,680
Depreciation and amortization	2,895	3,593
Operating expenses	423,016	363,257
Operating income	44,324	36,005
Other income (expense):
Interest income	24	120
Interest expense	(3,349)	(1,703)
Equity in earnings from equity method investments	1,216	1,860
Miscellaneous, net	236	601
Total other (expense) income, net	(1,873)	878
Income before income taxes	42,451	36,883
Income tax expense	(10,878)	(9,563)
Net income	31,573	27,320
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(269)	(161)
Net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc.	$ 31,304	$ 27,159
Basic earnings per common share:
Net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders, basic (usd per share)	$ 0.98	$ 0.80
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic (shares)	32,001	33,971
Diluted earnings per common share:
Net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders, diluted (usd per share)	$ 0.95	$ 0.79
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted (shares)	32,893	34,592