Operating Income of Reportable Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue	$ 338,400	$ 326,400	$ 314,100	$ 301,600	$ 300,500	$ 300,300	$ 305,000	$ 298,700	$ 1,280,541	$ 1,204,554	$ 1,249,344
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization									725,915	691,061	717,996
General and administrative expenses									452,400	441,700	474,000
Provision for doubtful accounts									14,053	16,294	15,882
Depreciation and amortization									20,036	28,307	36,871
U.S. Department of Justice settlement									0	0	150,000
Asset impairment charge									77,268	3,107	9,492
Operating expenses									1,289,707	1,180,507	1,404,315
Operating (loss) income									(9,166)	24,047	(154,971)
Home Health [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue									1,005,100	956,900	987,700
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization									584,200	559,400	578,900
General and administrative expenses									263,200	269,000	304,800
Provision for doubtful accounts									12,200	14,800	10,200
Depreciation and amortization									5,200	9,000	10,300
U.S. Department of Justice settlement											0
Asset impairment charge									0	1,600	8,500
Operating expenses									864,800	853,800	912,700
Operating (loss) income									140,300	103,100	75,000
Hospice [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue									275,400	247,600	261,600
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization									141,700	131,700	139,100
General and administrative expenses									62,700	58,300	64,700
Provision for doubtful accounts									1,900	1,500	5,700
Depreciation and amortization									1,400	2,100	2,100
U.S. Department of Justice settlement											0
Asset impairment charge									0	1,500	1,000
Operating expenses									207,700	195,100	212,600
Operating (loss) income									67,700	52,500	49,000
All Other Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net service revenue									0	0	0
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization									0	0	0
General and administrative expenses									126,500	114,400	104,500
Provision for doubtful accounts									0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization									13,400	17,200	24,500
U.S. Department of Justice settlement											150,000
Asset impairment charge									77,300	0	0
Operating expenses									217,200	131,600	279,000
Operating (loss) income									$ (217,200)	$ (131,600)	$ (279,000)