Name:	amed_MaximumPercentOwnershipForEquityMethodPercent
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Description containing the percentage ownership required in order for a variable interest entity (VIE) to be consolidated in the entity's financial statements.

No definition available.

Name:	amed_MinimumPercentOwnershipForControllingInterestPercent
Namespace Prefix:	amed_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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Period Type:	instant

Description containing the number of care centers owned by the entity as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	amed_OperatingCareCenters
Namespace Prefix:	amed_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskLineItems
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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Period Type:	duration

For an entity that discloses a concentration risk in relation to quantitative amount, which serves as the "benchmark" (or denominator) in the equation, this concept represents the concentration percentage derived from the division.

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Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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This element represents the aggregate cost of investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

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Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentAggregateCost
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The difference between the carrying value and the sale price of an investment. A loss would be recognized when the sale price of the investment is less than the carrying value of the investment. This element refers to the Loss included in earnings and not to the cash proceeds of the sale.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
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-Topic 220
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-Topic 942
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-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04(13))
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
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-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(b)(7)(c))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116634182&loc=SL114868664-224227

Name:	us-gaap_LossOnSaleOfInvestments
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The number of states the entity operates in as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfStatesInWhichEntityOperates
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The cash inflow associated with the sale of equity method investments, which are investments in joint ventures and entities in which the entity has an equity ownership interest normally of 20 to 50 percent and exercises significant influence.

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Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfEquityMethodInvestments
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=amed_HomeHealthMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=amed_HospiceMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=amed_PersonalCareMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis=us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis=amed_MedicareRevenueMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: