CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net service revenue	$ 491,685	$ 467,340
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	285,737	275,274
General and administrative expenses:
Salaries and benefits	101,566	94,830
Non-cash compensation	5,909	6,615
Other	49,265	43,402
Depreciation and amortization	5,338	2,895
Operating expenses	447,815	423,016
Operating income	43,870	44,324
Other income (expense):
Interest income	13	24
Interest expense	(3,231)	(3,349)
Equity in earnings from equity method investments	477	1,216
Miscellaneous, net	263	236
Total other expense, net	(2,478)	(1,873)
Income before income taxes	41,392	42,451
Income tax expense	(9,346)	(10,878)
Net income	32,046	31,573
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(244)	(269)
Net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc.	$ 31,802	$ 31,304
Basic earnings per common share:
Net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders, basic (usd per share)	$ 0.98	$ 0.98
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic (shares)	32,331	32,001
Diluted earnings per common share:
Net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders, diluted (usd per share)	$ 0.96	$ 0.95
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted (shares)	33,234	32,893