| **Segment Reporting Segment Reporting**   | 6 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             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| **Segment Reporting [Abstract]**          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  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| Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] | Segment ReportingOur internal financial reporting and management structure is focused on the major types of services provided by HealthSouth. We manage our operations using two operating segments which are also our reportable segments: (1) inpatient rehabilitation and (2) home health and hospice. These reportable operating segments are consistent with information used by our chief executive officer, who is our chief operating decision maker, to assess performance and allocate resources. The following is a brief description of our reportable segments:•Inpatient Rehabilitation - Our national network of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals stretches across29 states and Puerto Rico, with a concentration of hospitals in the eastern half of the United States and Texas. As of June 30, 2016, we operate121inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, includingone hospital that operates as a joint venture which we account for using the equity method of accounting. In addition, we managefour inpatient rehabilitation units through management contracts. We provide specialized rehabilitative treatment on both an inpatient and outpatient basis. Our inpatient rehabilitation hospitals provide a higher level of rehabilitative care to patients who are recovering from conditions such as stroke and other neurological disorders, cardiac and pulmonary conditions, brain and spinal cord injuries, complex orthopedic conditions, and amputations.•Home Health and Hospice - As of June 30, 2016, we provide home health and hospice services in218 locations across24states.Two of these agencies operate as joint ventures which we account for using the equity method of accounting. Our home health services include a comprehensive range of Medicare-certified home nursing services to adult patients in need of care. These services include, among others, skilled nursing, physical, occupational, and speech therapy, medical social work, and home health aide services. We also provide specialized home care services in Texas and Kansas for pediatric patients with severe medical conditions. Our hospice services primarily include in-home services to terminally ill patients and their families to address patients’ physical needs, including pain control and symptom management, and to provide emotional and spiritual support.The accounting policies of our reportable segments are the same as those described in Note 1, Basis of Presentation, “Variable Interest Entities,” to these condensed consolidated financial statements and Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to the consolidated financial statements accompanying the 2015 Form 10-K. All revenues for our services are generated through external customers. See Note 1, Basis of Presentation, “Net Operating Revenues,” for the payor composition of our revenues. No corporate overhead is allocated to either of our reportable segments. Our chief operating decision maker evaluates the performance of our segments and allocates resources to them based on adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“Segment Adjusted EBITDA”).Selected financial information for our reportable segments is as follows (in millions): Inpatient Rehabilitation Home Health and Hospice Three Months Ended June 30,  Six Months Ended June 30, Three Months Ended June 30,  Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 2016 2015 2016 2015Net operating revenues$752.6 $645.3 $1,501.8 $1,275.6 $168.1 $119.1 $328.7 $229.4Less: Provision for doubtful accounts(14.5) (10.2) (30.1) (21.2) (0.9) (0.7) (1.8) (1.3)Net operating revenues less provision for doubtful accounts738.1 635.1 1,471.7 1,254.4 167.2 118.4 326.9 228.1Operating expenses:               Inpatient rehabilitation:               Salaries and benefits366.1 317.6 736.0 624.0 — — — —Other operating expenses106.8 93.5 211.6 188.7 — — — —Supplies31.8 29.9 64.2 59.7 — — — —Occupancy costs15.4 10.7 31.0 21.1 — — — —Home health and hospice:               Cost of services sold (excluding depreciation and amortization)— — — — 81.6 56.7 160.0 110.1Support and overhead costs— — — — 58.0 41.0 115.0 79.1 520.1 451.7 1,042.8 893.5 139.6 97.7 275.0 189.2Other income(0.7) (0.4) (1.3) (0.9) — — — —Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates(2.2) (2.3) (4.4) (3.9) (0.2) — (0.4) —Noncontrolling interests16.8 15.6 33.6 30.8 1.8 1.7 3.7 3.0Segment Adjusted EBITDA$204.1 $170.5 $401.0 $334.9 $26.0 $19.0 $48.6 $35.9                Capital expenditures$47.4 $33.1 $86.1 $59.4 $1.9 $1.9 $2.4 $2.2 Inpatient Rehabilitation Home Health and Hospice HealthSouth ConsolidatedAs of June 30, 2016     Total assets$3,612.4 $1,091.5 $4,632.6Investments in and advances to nonconsolidated affiliates10.8 2.8 13.6As of December 31, 2015     Total assets$3,589.0 $1,088.4 $4,606.1Investments in and advances to nonconsolidated affiliates9.3 2.4 11.7Segment reconciliations (in millions): Three Months Ended June 30,  Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015Total segment Adjusted EBITDA$230.1 $189.5 $449.6 $370.8General and administrative expenses(34.4) (32.1) (66.3) (66.7)Depreciation and amortization(42.9) (32.7) (85.3) (64.6)(Loss) gain on disposal or impairment of assets(0.2) (0.8) (0.4) 0.7Government, class action, and related settlements— — — (8.0)Professional fees - accounting, tax, and legal(1.7) (0.1) (1.9) (2.3)Loss on early extinguishment of debt(2.4) (18.8) (4.8) (20.0)Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees(43.4) (30.9) (88.0) (62.7)Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests18.6 17.3 37.3 33.8Gain related to SCA equity interest— 2.6 — 2.6Income from continuing operations before income tax expense$123.7 $94.0 $240.2 $183.6 June 30, 2016 December 31, 2015Total assets for reportable segments$4,703.9 $4,677.4Reclassification of deferred income tax liabilities to net deferred income tax assets(71.3) (71.3)Total consolidated assets$4,632.6 $4,606.1Additional detail regarding the revenues of our operating segments by service line follows (in millions): Three Months Ended June 30,  Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015Inpatient rehabilitation:       Inpatient$721.2 $618.7 $1,440.5 $1,225.3Outpatient and other31.4 26.6 61.3 50.3Total inpatient rehabilitation752.6 645.3 1,501.8 1,275.6Home health and hospice:       Home health157.1 111.5 308.0 215.4Hospice11.0 7.6 20.7 14.0Total home health and hospice168.1 119.1 328.7 229.4Total net operating revenues$920.7 $764.4 $1,830.5 $1,505.0 |

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| - Definition
The entire disclosure for reporting segments including data and tables. Reportable segments include those that meet any of the following quantitative thresholds a) it's reported revenue, including sales to external customers and intersegment sales or transfers is 10 percent or more of the combined revenue, internal and external, of all operating segments b) the absolute amount of its reported profit or loss is 10 percent or more of the greater, in absolute amount of 1) the combined reported profit of all operating segments that did not report a loss or 2) the combined reported loss of all operating segments that did report a loss c) its assets are 10 percent or more of the combined assets of all operating segments.
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