Unaudited Summarized Quarterly Financial Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue	$ 303,500,000	$ 301,300,000	$ 315,900,000	$ 328,600,000	$ 351,600,000	$ 363,900,000	$ 366,200,000	$ 359,100,000	$ 1,249,344,000	$ 1,440,836,000	$ 1,418,464,000
Net loss attributable to Amedisys, Inc.	(9,600,000)	(91,100,000)	1,800,000	2,700,000	(106,800,000)	9,900,000	7,900,000	5,400,000	(96,178,000)	(83,588,000)	(382,464,000)
Earnings Per Share Basic	$ (0.30)	$ (2.89)	$ 0.06	$ 0.09	$ (3.52)	$ 0.33	$ 0.26	$ 0.18	$ (3.08)	$ (2.79)	$ (13.33)
Earnings Per Share Diluted	$ (0.30)	$ (2.89)	$ 0.06	$ 0.09	$ (3.52)	$ 0.33	$ 0.26	$ 0.18	$ (3.08)	$ (2.79)	$ (13.33)
Goodwill and other intangibles impairment charge									9,492,000	162,103,000	579,955,000
U.S. Department of Justice settlement									150,000,000	0	0
Net Of Tax [Member]
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Legal fees	500,000	600,000	1,000,000	1,200,000	1,400,000	600,000	800,000	2,200,000
Goodwill and other intangibles impairment charge	3,500,000	900,000	1,400,000		110,200,000
U.S. Department of Justice settlement		93,900,000
Insurance proceeds for reimbursement of legal fees		3,400,000
Cost associated with prepayment of loans					2,800,000
Settlement of lawsuit					$ 2,100,000