| **Earnings per Common Share**     | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        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| **Earnings Per Share [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        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| Earnings Per Share [Text Block]   | Earnings per Common Share:The calculation of earnings per common share is based on the weighted-average number of our common shares outstanding during the applicable period. The calculation for diluted earnings per common share recognizes the effect of all dilutive potential common shares that were outstanding during the respective periods, unless their impact would be antidilutive. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share (in millions, except per share amounts): For the Year Ended December 31, 2012 2011 2010Basic:     Numerator:     Income from continuing operations$231.4 $205.8 $930.7Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests included in continuing operations(50.9) (47.0) (40.9)Less: Convertible perpetual preferred stock dividends(23.9) (26.0) (26.0)Less: Repurchase of convertible perpetual preferred stock(0.8) — —Income from continuing operations attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders155.8 132.8 863.8Income from discontinued operations, net of tax, attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders4.5 49.9 9.2Net income attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders$160.3 $182.7 $873.0Denominator:     Basic weighted average common shares outstanding94.6 93.3 92.8Basic earnings per share attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders:     Continuing operations$1.65 $1.42 $9.31Discontinued operations0.04 0.54 0.10Net income$1.69 $1.96 $9.41Diluted:     Numerator:     Income from continuing operations$231.4 $205.8 $930.7Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests included in continuing operations(50.9) (47.0) (40.9)Income from continuing operations attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders180.5 158.8 889.8Income from discontinued operations, net of tax, attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders4.5 49.9 9.2Net income attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders$185.0 $208.7 $899.0Denominator:     Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding108.1 109.2 108.5Diluted earnings per share attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders:     Continuing operations$1.65 $1.42 $8.20Discontinued operations0.04 0.54 0.08Net income$1.69 $1.96 $8.28Diluted earnings per share report the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. These potential shares include dilutive stock options, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, and convertible perpetual preferred stock. For the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010, the number of potential shares approximated 13.5 million, 15.9 million, and 15.7 million, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010, approximately 12.0 million, 13.1 million, and 13.1 million of the potential shares, respectively, relate to our Convertible perpetual preferred stock. For the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, adding back the dividends for the Convertible perpetual preferred stock to our Income from continuing operations attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders causes a per share increase when calculating diluted earnings per common share resulting in an antidilutive per share amount. Therefore, basic and diluted earnings per common share are the same for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011.Options to purchase approximately 1.8 million shares of common stock were outstanding as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, but were not included in the computation of diluted weighted-average shares because to do so would have been antidilutive.In October 2011, our board of directors authorized the repurchase of up to $125 million of our common stock. No repurchases were made under this original authorization. On February 15, 2013, our board of directors approved an increase in our existing common stock repurchase authorization from $125 million to $350 million. The repurchase authorization does not require the repurchase of a specific number of shares, has an indefinite term, and is subject to termination at any time by our board of directors.In January 2004, we repaid our then-outstanding 3.25% Convertible Debentures using the net proceeds of a loan arranged by Credit Suisse First Boston. In connection with this transaction, we issued warrants to the lender to purchase two million shares of our common stock. Each warrant has a term of ten years from the date of issuance and an exercise price of $32.50 per share. The warrants were not assumed exercised for dilutive shares outstanding because they were antidilutive in the periods presented. In October 2011, our board of directors also granted discretion to management to repurchase these warrants from time to time, subject to similar conditions discussed above for the repurchase of our common stock. However, the board of directors’ decision to increase the common stock repurchase authorization, as discussed above, on February 15, 2013 replaces this authorization for warrants. On September 30, 2009, we issued 5.0 million shares of common stock and 8.2 million common stock warrants in full satisfaction of our obligation to do so under the Consolidated Securities Action settlement. Each warrant has a term of approximately seven years from the date of issuance and an exercise price of $41.40 per share. The warrants were not assumed exercised for dilutive shares outstanding because they were antidilutive in the periods presented.See Note 11,Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, for additional information related to repurchases of our preferred stock. |

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The entire disclosure for earnings per share.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 260 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7655603&loc=d3e1252-109256Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 260 -SubTopic 10 -Section 55 -Paragraph 52 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=16381557&loc=d3e4984-109258Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 260 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 260 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7655603&loc=d3e1278-109256Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 128 -Paragraph 40 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.  This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.21) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688
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