CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net service revenue	$ 492,984	$ 411,603	$ 960,324	$ 810,865
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	290,752	242,564	566,026	480,873
General and administrative expenses:
Salaries and benefits	98,356	77,215	193,186	152,846
Non-cash compensation	5,538	3,767	12,153	7,811
Other	48,408	42,104	91,810	83,784
Depreciation and amortization	5,179	3,125	8,074	6,718
Operating expenses	448,233	368,775	871,249	732,032
Operating income	44,751	42,828	89,075	78,833
Other income (expense):
Interest income	20	114	44	234
Interest expense	(4,332)	(2,140)	(7,681)	(3,843)
Equity in earnings from equity method investments	3,716	2,976	4,932	4,836
Miscellaneous, net	193	359	429	960
Total other (expense) income, net	(403)	1,309	(2,276)	2,187
Income before income taxes	44,348	44,137	86,799	81,020
Income tax expense	(10,308)	(10,596)	(21,186)	(20,159)
Net income	34,040	33,541	65,613	60,861
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(298)	(192)	(567)	(353)
Net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc.	$ 33,742	$ 33,349	$ 65,046	$ 60,508
Basic earnings per common share:
Net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders, basic (usd per share)	$ 1.05	$ 1.00	$ 2.03	$ 1.80
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic (shares)	32,075	33,439	32,038	33,705
Diluted earnings per common share:
Net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders, diluted (usd per share)	$ 1.02	$ 0.98	$ 1.98	$ 1.76
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted (shares)	32,933	34,179	32,913	34,391