| **Basis of Presentation**                                                           | 9 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
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| **Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Basis of Presentation                                                               | Basis of PresentationHealthSouth Corporation, incorporated in Delaware in 1984, including its subsidiaries, is the largest owner and operator of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in the United States in terms of patients treated and discharged, revenues, and number of hospitals. We operate inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and provide specialized rehabilitative treatment on both an inpatient and outpatient basis.The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of HealthSouth Corporation and Subsidiaries should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in HealthSouth’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 20, 2014 (the “2013 Form 10-K”). The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC applicable to interim financial information. Certain information and note disclosures included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America have been omitted in these interim statements, as allowed by such SEC rules and regulations. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2013 has been derived from audited financial statements, but it does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. However, we believe the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. The unaudited results of operations for the interim periods shown in these financial statements are not necessarily indicative of operating results for the entire year. In our opinion, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements recognize all adjustments of a normal recurring nature considered necessary to fairly state the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for each interim period presented.See also Note 2, Business Combinations.Net Operating Revenues—During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, we derived consolidated Net operating revenues from the following payor sources: Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 2013 2014 2013Medicare73.5% 74.1% 74.1% 74.5%Medicaid2.2% 1.5% 1.8% 1.2%Workers’ compensation1.1% 1.3% 1.2% 1.3%Managed care and other discount plans, including Medicare Advantage18.8% 18.7% 18.6% 18.5%Other third-party payors1.8% 1.7% 1.7% 1.7%Patients1.1% 1.1% 1.0% 1.1%Other income1.5% 1.6% 1.6% 1.7%Total100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%See Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to the consolidated financial statements accompanying the 2013 Form 10-K for our policies related to Net operating revenues,Accounts receivable, and our Allowance for doubtful accounts. |

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The entire disclosure for organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure.
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