CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Net service revenue	$ 380,163	$ 361,595	$ 1,129,442	$ 1,071,158
Cost of service, excluding depreciation and amortization	226,642	212,124	662,192	620,466
General and administrative expenses:
Salaries and benefits	77,130	77,019	226,532	231,079
Non-cash compensation	3,558	4,750	11,788	12,556
Other	38,189	42,658	120,223	134,951
Provision for doubtful accounts	7,086	5,471	18,078	13,664
Depreciation and amortization	4,185	5,214	13,139	14,662
Securities Class Action Lawsuit settlement, net	0	0	28,712	0
Operating expenses	356,790	347,236	1,080,664	1,027,378
Operating income	23,373	14,359	48,778	43,780
Other income (expense):
Interest income	44	14	104	45
Interest expense	(1,335)	(1,136)	(3,600)	(3,551)
Equity in earnings from equity method investments	900	3,244	3,149	3,602
Miscellaneous, net	1,043	1,713	3,282	3,106
Total other income, net	652	3,835	2,935	3,202
Income before income taxes	24,025	18,194	51,713	46,982
Income tax expense	(9,364)	(6,693)	(17,324)	(18,323)
Net income	14,661	11,501	34,389	28,659
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(103)	(66)	(240)	(315)
Net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc.	$ 14,558	$ 11,435	$ 34,149	$ 28,344
Basic earnings per common share:
Net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders	$ 0.43	$ 0.34	$ 1.02	$ 0.86
Weighted average shares outstanding	33,838	33,309	33,640	33,142
Diluted earnings per common share:
Net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc. common stockholders	$ 0.42	$ 0.34	$ 1.00	$ 0.84
Weighted average shares outstanding	34,363	33,823	34,255	33,699
Income Amounts Attributable To Reporting Entity Disclosures [Abstract]
Net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc.	$ 14,558	$ 11,435	$ 34,149	$ 28,344