UNAUDITED SUMMARIZED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION Operating Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net service revenue	$ 500,700	$ 494,600	$ 493,000	$ 467,300	$ 434,400	$ 417,300	$ 411,600	$ 399,300	$ 1,955,633	$ 1,662,578	$ 1,511,272
Net income (loss) attributable to Amedisys, Inc.	$ 27,700	$ 34,100	$ 33,700	$ 31,300	$ 27,500	$ 31,400	$ 33,300	$ 27,200	$ 126,833	$ 119,346	$ 30,301
Net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders - basic (usd per share)	$ 0.86	$ 1.06	$ 1.05	$ 0.98	$ 0.86	$ 0.99	$ 1.00	$ 0.80	$ 3.95	$ 3.64	$ 0.90
Net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders - diluted (usd per share)	$ 0.83	$ 1.03	$ 1.02	$ 0.95	$ 0.84	$ 0.96	$ 0.98	$ 0.79	$ 3.84	$ 3.55	$ 0.88