Cover - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Oct. 25, 2019
Cover page.
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	0-24260
Entity Registrant Name	AMEDISYS INC
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	11-3131700
Entity Address, Street Name	3854 American Way
Entity Address, Suite	Suite A
Entity Address, City	Baton Rouge
Entity Address, State	LA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	70816
City Area Code	225
Local Phone Number	292-2031
Title of each class	Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
Trading Symbol	AMED
Name of each exchange on which registered	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		32,255,257
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Central Index Key	0000896262
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31