| **Earnings per Common Share**     | 3 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
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| **Earnings Per Share [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| Earnings per Common Share         | Earnings per Common ShareThe following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share (in millions, except per share amounts): Three Months Ended March 31,  2016 2015Basic:   Numerator:   Income from continuing operations$76.8 $59.3Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests included in continuing operations(18.7) (16.5)Less: Income allocated to participating securities(0.2) (0.3)Less: Convertible perpetual preferred stock dividends— (1.6)Income from continuing operations attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders57.9 40.9Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders(0.1) (0.3)Net income attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders$57.8 $40.6Denominator:   Basic weighted average common shares outstanding89.5 87.1Basic earnings per share attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders:   Continuing operations$0.65 $0.47Discontinued operations— —Net income$0.65 $0.47    Diluted:   Numerator:   Income from continuing operations$76.8 $59.3Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests included in continuing operations(18.7) (16.5)Add: Interest on convertible debt, net of tax2.4 2.3Income from continuing operations attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders60.5 45.1Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders(0.1) (0.3)Net income attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders$60.4 $44.8Denominator:   Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding99.4 101.1Diluted earnings per share attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders:   Continuing operations$0.61 $0.44Discontinued operations— —Net income$0.61 $0.44The following table sets forth the reconciliation between basic weighted average common shares outstanding and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding (in millions): Three Months Ended March 31,  2016 2015Basic weighted average common shares outstanding89.5 87.1Convertible perpetual preferred stock— 3.2Convertible senior subordinated notes8.4 8.2Restricted stock awards, dilutive stock options, restricted stock units, and common stock warrants1.5 2.6Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding99.4 101.1In October 2015 and February 2016, our board of directors declared cash dividends of $0.23 per share that were paid in January 2016 and April 2016, respectively. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, accrued common stock dividends of $21.2 millionand $21.3 million, respectively, were included in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities in our condensed consolidated balance sheets. Future dividend payments are subject to declaration by our board of directors.The indenture underlying our convertible notes includes antidilutive protection that requires adjustments to the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion and the exercise price for common stock upon the occurrence of certain events, including payment of cash dividends on our common stock after a de minimis threshold. At issuance, the convertible notes had a conversion price of $39.65 per share, which was equal to an initial conversion rate of 25.2194 shares per $1,000 principal amount of the convertible notes. The payment of dividends on our common stock has triggered and will continue to trigger, from time to time, the antidilutive adjustment provisions of the convertible notes. The current conversion price of the convertible notes is$37.59per share, and the conversion rate is26.6011for each $1,000 principal amount of the convertible notes.See Note 8, Long-term Debt, Note 10, Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, and Note 16, Earnings per Common Share, to the consolidated financial statements accompanying the 2015 Form 10-K for additional information related to our convertible notes, common stock, common stock warrants, and convertible perpetual preferred stock. |

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| - Definition
The entire disclosure for earnings per share.
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