Segment Information (Schedule Of Segment Reporting Information) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue	$ 374,861,000	$ 404,680,000	$ 1,112,885,000	$ 1,239,996,000
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	205,657,000	206,302,000	589,983,000	619,654,000
General and administrative expenses	138,000,000	147,200,000	401,800,000	425,800,000
Provision for doubtful accounts	4,628,000	5,261,000	9,918,000	14,069,000
Depreciation and amortization	9,826,000	8,832,000	28,907,000	25,297,000
Goodwill and other intangibles impairment charge	574,114,000		574,114,000
Operating expenses	932,178,000	367,595,000	1,604,711,000	1,084,900,000
Operating (loss) income	(557,317,000)	37,085,000	(491,826,000)	155,096,000
Home Health [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue	310,400,000	368,500,000	962,300,000	1,137,000,000
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	170,700,000	186,200,000	509,100,000	563,900,000
General and administrative expenses	74,500,000	92,000,000	224,700,000	269,400,000
Provision for doubtful accounts	4,000,000	5,100,000	9,400,000	12,900,000
Depreciation and amortization	3,700,000	3,800,000	10,700,000	11,300,000
Goodwill and other intangibles impairment charge	574,100,000		574,100,000
Operating expenses	827,000,000	287,100,000	1,328,000,000	857,500,000
Operating (loss) income	(516,600,000)	81,400,000	(365,700,000)	279,500,000
Hospice [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue	64,500,000	36,200,000	150,600,000	103,000,000
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	35,000,000	20,100,000	80,900,000	55,800,000
General and administrative expenses	12,500,000	9,400,000	30,300,000	25,100,000
Provision for doubtful accounts	600,000	200,000	500,000	1,200,000
Depreciation and amortization	200,000	200,000	500,000	400,000
Goodwill and other intangibles impairment charge
Operating expenses	48,300,000	29,900,000	112,200,000	82,500,000
Operating (loss) income	16,200,000	6,300,000	38,400,000	20,500,000
Other Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization
General and administrative expenses	51,000,000	45,800,000	146,800,000	131,300,000
Provision for doubtful accounts
Depreciation and amortization	5,900,000	4,800,000	17,700,000	13,600,000
Goodwill and other intangibles impairment charge
Operating expenses	56,900,000	50,600,000	164,500,000	144,900,000
Operating (loss) income	$ (56,900,000)	$ (50,600,000)	$ (164,500,000)	$ (144,900,000)