COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands								1 Months Ended	12 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	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2010 beneficiary	Jan. 10, 2019 USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Indemnity receivable									$ 13,600	$ 13,600
Other General and Administrative Expense									192,122	188,434	$ 166,897
Patient accounts receivable									255,145	$ 237,596
Health insurance retention limit									1,300
Workers' compensation insurance retention limit									1,000
Professional liability insurance retention limit									300
South Carolina [Member] | Hospice [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of beneficiaries | beneficiary													30
Indemnity receivable									2,800
Indemnification amount														$ 2,800
South Carolina [Member] | Hospice [Member] | Extrapolated [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of beneficiaries | beneficiary							16
South Carolina [Member] | Hospice [Member] | Unfavorable [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Recovery amount of the overpayment made to the 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
US Department of Justice [Member] | Hospice [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency accrual									6,500
US Department of Justice [Member] | Massachusetts [Member] | Hospice [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of patients | patient				53
US Department of Justice [Member] | Morgantown, West Virginia [Member] | Hospice [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of patients | patient			66
US Department of Justice [Member] | Parkersburg, West Virginia [Member] | Hospice [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of patients | patient	68
Safeguard Zone Program Integrity Contractor [Member] | Florida [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency accrual									17,400
Indemnity receivable									10,900
Safeguard Zone Program Integrity Contractor [Member] | Florida [Member] | Infinity HomeCare [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Indemnification amount								$ 12,600
Safeguard Zone Program Integrity Contractor [Member] | Florida [Member] | Home Health [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Florida Zpic revenue reduction												$ 6,500
Safeguard Zone Program Integrity Contractor [Member] | Florida [Member] | Home Health [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Recovery amount of the overpayment made to the subsidiary								6,500
Safeguard Zone Program Integrity Contractor [Member] | Florida [Member] | Home Health [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Recovery amount of the overpayment made to the subsidiary								38,800	29,300
Safeguard Zone Program Integrity Contractor [Member] | Florida [Member] | Home Health [Member] | Infinity HomeCare [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Patient accounts receivable									1,500
Safeguard Zone Program Integrity Contractor [Member] | Lakeland, Florida [Member] | Home Health [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Recovery amount of the overpayment made to the subsidiary								$ 34,000	26,000
Number of claims submitted by subsidiary | claim								72
Actual claims payment								$ 200
Error rate (percent)								100.00%
Safeguard Zone Program Integrity Contractor [Member] | Clearwater, Florida [Member] | Home Health [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Recovery amount of the overpayment made to the subsidiary								$ 4,800	$ 3,300
Number of claims submitted by subsidiary | claim								70
Actual claims payment								$ 200
Error rate (percent)								100.00%
Amedisys CIA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Corporate integrity agreement term (years)						5 years
Compassionate Care Hospice CIA [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Corporate integrity agreement term (years)					5 years