Unaudited Summarized Quarterly Financial Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ 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
Quarterly Financial 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
Net (loss) income attributable to Amedisys, Inc.	$ 12,900	$ 8,400	$ 10,600	$ (35,000)	$ 9,100	$ 8,400	$ 7,600	$ (12,400)	$ (3,021)	$ 12,776	$ (96,178)
Earnings Per Share Basic	$ 0.39	$ 0.25	$ 0.32	$ (1.07)	$ 0.28	$ 0.26	$ 0.24	$ (0.39)	$ (0.09)	$ 0.39	$ (3.08)
Earnings Per Share Diluted	$ 0.38	$ 0.25	$ 0.32	$ (1.07)	$ 0.28	$ 0.26	$ 0.23	$ (0.39)	$ (0.09)	$ 0.39	$ (3.08)
Asset impairment charge									$ 77,268	$ 3,107	$ 9,492
Write Off Of Deferred Debt Issuance Cost		$ 2,500
Gain on sale of care centers									184	2,967	1,752
U.S. Department of Justice settlement									0	0	$ 150,000
Hospice Inpatient Unit [Member]
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Gain on sale of care centers										$ (500)
OIG Self-Disclosure [Member]
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Loss Contingency Accrual									$ 4,700
Net Of Tax [Member]
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Asset impairment charge		1,200		$ 45,500	$ 600			$ 1,400
Exit activity costs								6,100
Legal fees	$ (1,100)	200	$ 4,800	$ 1,300				$ 2,400
Software Write off							$ 900
Write Off Of Deferred Debt Issuance Cost						$ 300
Gain on sale of care centers							1,300
Software Implementation Costs	1,400	$ 1,200
Net Of Tax [Member] | Hospice Inpatient Unit [Member]
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Gain on sale of care centers						$ (300)
Net Of Tax [Member] | OIG Self-Disclosure [Member]
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Loss Contingency Accrual	$ 3,400						$ 900