COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands								1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended		27 Months Ended
	Jun. 27, 2016 patient	Jan. 18, 2016 USD ($) claim	Nov. 03, 2015 patient	May 21, 2015 patient	Jan. 30, 2015	Apr. 23, 2014	Jun. 06, 2011 beneficiary	Aug. 31, 2017 USD ($) claim	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2010 beneficiary	Jan. 10, 2019 USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Other General and Administrative Expense									$ 48,474		$ 40,335		$ 140,284	$ 124,119
Patient accounts receivable									254,703	$ 188,972			254,703
Health insurance retention limit													1,300
Workers compensation insurance retention limit													1,000
Professional liability insurance retention limit													300
South Carolina | Hospice
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of beneficiaries | beneficiary															30
Indemnity receivable related to amounts withheld prior to August 2009									2,800				2,800
Indemnity receivable											$ 4,900			$ 4,900		$ 2,800
Other General and Administrative Expense										$ 2,100
Indemnification amount																$ 2,800
South Carolina | Hospice | Extrapolated
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of beneficiaries | beneficiary							16
South Carolina | Hospice | Unfavorable
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Recovery amount of overpayment made to subsidiary		$ 3,700
Recovery amount of overpayment made to subsidiary including interest		$ 5,600
Number of claims submitted by subsidiary | claim		9
Recovery amount of over payment made to subsidiary including interest withheld									5,700				5,700
US Department of Justice | Hospice
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency accrual									6,500				6,500
US Department of Justice | Massachusetts | Hospice
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of patients | patient				53
US Department of Justice | Morgantown, West Virginia | Hospice
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of patients | patient			66
US Department of Justice | Parkersburg, West Virginia | Hospice
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of patients | patient	68
Amedisys CIA
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Corporate integrity agreement term (years)						5 years
Compassionate Care Hospice CIA
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Corporate integrity agreement term (years)					5 years
Safeguard Zone Program Integrity Contractor | Florida
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency accrual									17,400				17,400
Indemnity receivable									10,900				10,900
Indemnification amount									12,600				12,600
Safeguard Zone Program Integrity Contractor | Florida | Infinity HomeCare
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Indemnification amount								$ 12,600
Safeguard Zone Program Integrity Contractor | Florida | Home Health
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Florida ZPIC revenue reduction												$ 6,500
Safeguard Zone Program Integrity Contractor | Florida | Home Health | Minimum [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Recovery amount of overpayment made to subsidiary									6,500				6,500
Safeguard Zone Program Integrity Contractor | Florida | Home Health | Maximum [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Recovery amount of overpayment made to subsidiary								38,800	29,300				29,300
Safeguard Zone Program Integrity Contractor | Florida | Home Health | Infinity HomeCare
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Patient accounts receivable									1,500				1,500
Safeguard Zone Program Integrity Contractor | Lakeland, Florida | Home Health
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Recovery amount of overpayment made to subsidiary								$ 34,000	26,000				26,000
Number of claims submitted by subsidiary | claim								72
Actual claims payment								$ 200
Error rate (percent)								100.00%
Safeguard Zone Program Integrity Contractor | Clearwater, Florida | Home Health
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Recovery amount of overpayment made to subsidiary								$ 4,800	$ 3,300				$ 3,300
Number of claims submitted by subsidiary | claim								70
Actual claims payment								$ 200
Error rate (percent)								100.00%