Exhibit 5.1

            CORRERO FISHMAN HAYGOOD PHELPS WALMSLEY & CASTEIX, L.L.P.

                                 August 18, 2004

Amedisys, Inc.
11100 Mead Road, Suite 300
Baton Rouge, Louisiana  70816

Ladies and Gentlemen:

      We have acted as counsel for Amedisys, Inc. (the "Company") in connection
with the filing under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act") of the Company's
registration statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") covering up to
2,300,000 shares of the common stock of the Company (the "Shares"), which the
Company proposes to sell in a public offering. These 2,300,000 shares of common
stock include 300,000 common shares that may be sold pursuant to the
underwriters' over-allotment option, 150,000 of which would be sold by the
Company and the remaining 150,000 of which would be sold by certain selling
stockholders.

      For the purposes of the opinions expressed below, we have examined the
Registration Statement and the Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and
By-laws, as amended, of the Company, and such other documents and sources of law
as we considered necessary to render the opinions hereinafter expressed.

      Based upon the foregoing, and upon our examination of such matters as we
deem necessary in order to furnish this opinion, we are of the opinion that the
Shares, when issued in accordance with the Registration Statement, will be duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

      This opinion letter is limited to the matters expressly stated herein and
no opinion is implied or may be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated.

      We hereby consent (i) to be named in the Registration Statement under the
heading "Legal Matters" as counsel for the Company and (ii) to the filing of
this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In so doing we do not
admit that we are "experts" within the meaning of the Act.

                                       Sincerely,

                                       /s/ Anthony J. Correro, III

                                       Anthony J. Correro, III