Summarized Quarterly Financial Information (Summary Of Our Unaudited Quarterly Results Of Operations) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended																9 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		Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Summarized Quarterly Financial Information [Abstract]
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
Net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc.	4,300,000	[1],[2],[3]	(423,700,000)	[1],[3],[4]	21,600,000	[1],[5]	15,300,000	[1],[2]	22,200,000	[6],[7]	21,600,000	[6],[7],[8]	32,200,000	[6],[7],[8]	36,600,000			(382,464,000)		112,580,000		135,837,000
Net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders, Basic	$ 0.15	[1],[2],[3],[9]	$ (14.73)	[1],[3],[4],[9]	$ 0.76	[1],[5],[9]	$ 0.54	[1],[2],[9]	$ 0.79	[6],[7],[9]	$ 0.77	[6],[7],[8],[9]	$ 1.15	[6],[7],[8],[9]	$ 1.32	[9]		$ (13.33)	[9]	$ 4.02	[9]	$ 4.99
Net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders, Diluted	$ 0.15	[1],[2],[3],[9]	$ (14.73)	[1],[3],[4],[9]	$ 0.75	[1],[5],[9]	$ 0.53	[1],[2],[9]	$ 0.77	[6],[7],[9]	$ 0.76	[6],[7],[8],[9]	$ 1.13	[6],[7],[8],[9]	$ 1.29	[9]		$ (13.33)	[9]	$ 3.95	[9]	$ 4.89
Payment of bonus net of income taxes for performance demonstration					2,900,000								2,200,000
Valuation allowance related to specific deferred tax assets	800,000		1,900,000						3,000,000								1,900,000	800,000		3,000,000
Non-cash goodwill and other intangibles impairment charge			434,600,000															579,955,000
Non-cash goodwill impairment charge	5,800,000																565,000,000	570,800,000
Additional non-cash goodwill impairment charge net of income taxes	3,800,000
Settlement of Georgia indigent care liability net of income taxes											2,200,000
Costs associated with the realignment of our operations and legal expenses	1,800,000		1,600,000		700,000		2,000,000		1,900,000		1,800,000		2,100,000
Costs associated with our exit activities	$ 3,100,000						$ 700,000		$ 3,200,000		$ 4,200,000		$ 900,000					$ 5,200,000		$ 14,600,000

[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.

[9] Because of the method used in calculating per share data, the quarterly per share data may not necessarily total to the per share data as computed for the entire year.