| **Business Combinations (Tables)**                                          | 6 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
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| **Business Acquisition [Line Items]**                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| Summary of Actual and Pro Forma Results of Operations for Acquisitions      | The following table summarizes the results of operations of Hot Springs and Camellia from their respective dates of acquisition included in our consolidated results of operations and the unaudited pro forma results of operations of the combined entity had the date of the acquisitions been January 1, 2015 (in millions): Net Operating Revenues Net Income Attributable to HealthSouthAcquired entities only: Actual from acquisition date to June 30, 2016$3.0 $(0.8)Combined entity: Supplemental pro forma from 04/01/2016-06/30/2016921.2 62.6Combined entity: Supplemental pro forma from 04/01/2015-06/30/2015766.9 43.0Combined entity: Supplemental pro forma from 01/01/2016-06/30/20161,833.0 120.7Combined entity: Supplemental pro forma from 01/01/2015-06/30/20151,510.1 85.8 |
| Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital [Member]                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| **Business Acquisition [Line Items]**                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| Schedule of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed at the Acquisition Date | The fair value of the assets acquired at the acquisition date were as follows (in millions):Property and equipment$5.1Identifiable intangible asset: Trade name (useful life of 20 years)0.2Goodwill1.8Total assets acquired$7.1                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Schedule of Noncash or Part Noncash Acquisitions                            | Information regarding the net cash paid for all inpatient rehabilitation acquisitions during each period presented is as follows (in millions): Three Months Ended June 30,  Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015Fair value of assets acquired$— $62.8 $5.3 $62.8Goodwill— 0.7 1.8 0.7Fair value of liabilities assumed— (2.7) — (2.7)Fair value of noncontrolling interest owned by joint venture partner— (4.2) (7.1) (4.2)Net cash paid for acquisition$— $56.6 $— $56.6                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| Home Health and Hospice [Member]                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| **Business Acquisition [Line Items]**                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| Schedule of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed at the Acquisition Date | The fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date were as follows (in millions):Identifiable intangible asset: Noncompete agreements (useful lives of 5 years)$0.1Certificate of need (useful life of 10 years)1.0Licenses (useful lives of 10 years)0.3Goodwill8.1Total assets acquired9.5Total liabilities assumed(0.1)Net assets acquired$9.4                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| Schedule of Noncash or Part Noncash Acquisitions                            | Information regarding the net cash paid for home health and hospice acquisitions during each period presented is as follows (in millions): Three Months Ended June 30,  Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015Fair value of assets acquired$1.4 $7.1 $1.4 $8.4Goodwill8.1 6.8 8.1 12.8Fair value of liabilities assumed(0.1) (0.1) (0.1) (0.1)Net cash paid for acquisitions$9.4 $13.8 $9.4 $21.1                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |

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| - Definition
Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of pro forma results of operations for a material business acquisition or series of individually immaterial business acquisitions that are material in the aggregate.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of acquisition of assets or a business through noncash (or part noncash) transactions. Noncash is defined as information about all investing and financing activities of an enterprise during a period that affect recognized assets or liabilities but that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. Disclosure may include the equity interest acquired, value of assets acquired, value of liabilities acquired, net monetary assets acquired, number of shares, warrants or options issued as consideration for a business or asset acquired and other information necessary to a fair presentation.
+ References
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the amounts recognized as of the acquisition date for each major class of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. May include but not limited to the following: (a) acquired receivables; (b) contingencies recognized at the acquisition date; and (c) the fair value of noncontrolling interests in the acquiree.
+ References
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