Segment Information (Schedule Of Segment Reporting Information) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended															12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Sep. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2010		Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue	$ 370,700,000	[1],[2],[3]	$ 370,700,000	[1],[3],[4]	$ 368,900,000	[1],[5]	$ 360,000,000	[1],[2]	$ 388,700,000	[6],[7]	$ 396,700,000	[6],[7],[8]	$ 413,900,000	[6],[7],[8]	$ 404,500,000	$ 1,470,358,000	$ 1,603,849,000	$ 1,484,376,000
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization																782,348,000	796,389,000	705,617,000
General and administrative expenses																526,900,000	544,500,000	493,300,000
Provision for doubtful accounts																13,708,000	19,214,000	20,178,000
Depreciation and amortization																39,559,000	34,589,000	28,312,000
Goodwill and other intangibles impairment charge			434,600,000													579,955,000
Operating expenses																1,941,224,000	1,393,261,000	1,246,262,000
Operating (loss) income																(470,866,000)	210,588,000	238,114,000
Home Health [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue																1,252,600,000	1,465,200,000	1,382,000,000
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization																665,700,000	722,300,000	652,600,000
General and administrative expenses																291,000,000	335,900,000	298,200,000
Provision for doubtful accounts																12,300,000	17,800,000	17,500,000
Depreciation and amortization																13,600,000	14,200,000	13,300,000
Goodwill and other intangibles impairment charge																579,900,000
Operating expenses																1,562,500,000	1,090,200,000	981,600,000
Operating (loss) income																(309,900,000)	375,000,000	400,400,000
Hospice [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue																217,700,000	138,600,000	102,400,000
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization																116,600,000	74,100,000	53,000,000
General and administrative expenses																42,900,000	30,800,000	23,200,000
Provision for doubtful accounts																1,200,000	1,000,000	2,200,000
Depreciation and amortization																700,000	500,000	800,000
Operating expenses																161,400,000	106,400,000	79,200,000
Operating (loss) income																56,300,000	32,200,000	23,200,000
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
General and administrative expenses																193,000,000	177,800,000	171,900,000
Depreciation and amortization																24,300,000	18,800,000	13,600,000
Operating expenses																217,300,000	196,600,000	185,500,000
Operating (loss) income																$ (217,300,000)	$ (196,600,000)	$ (185,500,000)

[1] During each of the four quarters of 2011, we incurred certain costs associated with the realignment of our operations and legal expenses related to the United States Senate Committee on Finance inquiry and SEC investigation. Net of income taxes, these costs amounted to $2.0 million, $0.7 million, $1.6 million and $1.8 million for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2011, June 30, 2011, September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

[2] During the first and fourth quarters of 2011, we incurred costs associated with our exit activities. See Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements for further details. Net of income taxes, these costs amounted to $0.7 million and $3.1 million for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

[3] During the third quarter of 2011, we recognized an estimated non-cash goodwill and other intangibles impairment charge of $434.6 million, net of income taxes. During the fourth quarter of 2011, we finalized our interim test of impairment of goodwill and as a result, recognized an additional non-cash goodwill and other intangibles impairment charge in the amount of $3.8 million, net of income taxes.

[4] Our results for the three month period ended September 30, 2011, included a release of a valuation allowance related to specific deferred tax assets in the amount of $1.9 million, net of income taxes.

[5] Our results for the three month period ended June 30, 2011, included a CMS bonus payment of $2.9 million net of income taxes as the result of the pay for performance demonstration.

[6] During the second, third and fourth quarters of 2010, we incurred certain costs associated with the realignment of our operations and legal expenses related to the United States Senate Committee on Finance inquiry and SEC investigation. Net of income taxes, these costs amounted to $2.1 million, $1.8 million and $1.9 million for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2010, September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2010, respectively.

[7] During the second, third and fourth quarters of 2010, we incurred costs associated with our exit activities. See Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements for further details. Net of income taxes, these costs amounted to $0.9 million, $4.2 million and $3.2 million for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2010, September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2010, respectively.

[8] Our results for the three month period ended June 30, 2010 and September 30, 2010, included a CMS bonus payment of $2.2 million net of income taxes as the result of the pay for performance demonstration and $2.2 million net of income taxes for the settlement of our Georgia indigent care liability, respectively.