| **Earnings per Common Share (Tables)**                          | 3 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
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| **Earnings Per Share [Abstract]**                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share      | The 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, 2015 2014Basic:   Numerator:   Income from continuing operations$59.3 $61.6Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests included in continuing operations(16.5) (14.8)Less: Income allocated to participating securities(0.3) (0.5)Less: Convertible perpetual preferred stock dividends(1.6) (1.6)Income from continuing operations attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders40.9 44.7Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders(0.3) (0.1)Net income attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders$40.6 $44.6Denominator:   Basic weighted average common shares outstanding87.1 87.3Basic earnings per share attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders:   Continuing operations$0.47 $0.51Discontinued operations— —Net income$0.47 $0.51    Diluted:   Numerator:   Income from continuing operations$59.3 $61.6Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests included in continuing operations(16.5) (14.8)Add: Interest on convertible debt, net of tax2.3 2.2Income from continuing operations attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders45.1 49.0Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders(0.3) (0.1)Net income attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders$44.8 $48.9Denominator:   Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding101.1 100.9Diluted earnings per share attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders:   Continuing operations$0.44 $0.48Discontinued operations— —Net income$0.44 $0.48 |
| Reconciliation of Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding | The 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, 2015 2014Basic weighted average common shares outstanding87.1 87.3Convertible perpetual preferred stock3.2 3.2Convertible senior subordinated notes8.2 8.1Restricted stock awards, dilutive stock options, restricted stock units, and common stock warrants2.6 2.3Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding101.1 100.9                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |

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| - Definition
This table sets forth the reconciliation between basic weighted average common shares outstanding and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding.
+ References
No definition available.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of an entity's basic and diluted earnings per share calculations, including a reconciliation of numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted per-share computations for income from continuing operations.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 260 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257
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