| **Business Combinations**            | 9 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  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| **Business Combinations [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 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| Business Combinations                | Business CombinationsInpatient RehabilitationIn February 2016, we acquired 50% of the inpatient rehabilitation hospital at CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs (“Hot Springs”), a 20-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas, through a joint venture with St. Vincent Community Health Services, Inc. The acquisition, which was funded through a contribution to the consolidated joint venture, was not material to our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.In August 2016, we acquired 50% of the inpatient rehabilitation hospital at St. Joseph Regional Health Center (“Bryan”), a 19-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Bryan, Texas, through a joint venture with St. Joseph Health System. The acquisition, which was funded through a contribution to the consolidated joint venture, was not material to our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.Also in August 2016, we acquired 51% of the inpatient rehabilitation hospital at The Bernsen Rehabilitation Center at St. John (“Broken Arrow”), a 24-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, through a joint venture with St. John Health System. The acquisition, which was funded through a contribution to the consolidated joint venture, was not material to our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.Each of the above transactions was made to enhance our position and ability to provide inpatient rehabilitation services to patients in the applicable geographic areas. We accounted for these transactions under the acquisition method of accounting and reported the results of operations of the acquired hospitals from their respective dates of acquisition. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed, if any, were recorded at their estimated fair values as of the respective acquisition dates. The fair values of the identifiable intangible assets were based on valuations using the income approach. The income approach is based on management’s estimates of future operating results and cash flows discounted using a weighted-average cost of capital that reflects market participant assumptions. The excess of the fair value of the consideration conveyed over the fair value of the net assets acquired was recorded as goodwill. The goodwill reflects our expectations of our ability to gain access to and penetrate the acquired hospital’s historical patient base and the benefits of being able to leverage operational efficiencies with favorable growth opportunities based on positive demographic trends in these markets. None of the goodwill recorded as a result of these transactions is deductible for federal income tax purposes.The fair value of the assets acquired at the acquisition date were as follows (in millions):Property and equipment$5.3Identifiable intangible assets: Noncompete agreements (useful lives of 1 to 3 years)0.4Trade names (useful lives of 20 years)1.0Goodwill9.4Total assets acquired$16.1Information regarding the net cash paid for all inpatient rehabilitation acquisitions during each period presented is as follows (in millions): Three Months Ended September 30,  Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015Fair value of assets acquired$1.4 $— $6.7 $62.8Goodwill7.6 — 9.4 0.7Fair value of liabilities assumed— — — (2.7)Fair value of noncontrolling interest owned by joint venture partner(9.0) — (16.1) (4.2)Net cash paid for acquisition$— $— $— $56.6Home Health and HospiceDuring the nine months ended September 30, 2016, we completed the following home health and hospice acquisitions, none of which were individually material to our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. Each acquisition was made to enhance our position and ability to provide post-acute healthcare services to patients in the applicable geographic areas. Each acquisition was funded using cash on hand.•In May, 2016, we acquired Home Health Agency of Georgia, LLC (“Camellia”), a home health and hospice provider with two home health locations and two hospice locations in the Greater Atlanta area. •In July 2016, we acquired Advantage Health Inc. (“Advantage”), a home health provider with one location in Yuma, Arizona.•In September, 2016, we acquired three hospice agencies from Sotto International, Inc. (“Serenity”) located in Texarkana, Arkansas, Magnolia, Arkansas, and Texarkana, Texas.We accounted for all of these transactions under the acquisition method of accounting and reported the results of operations of the acquired locations from their respective dates of acquisition. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded at their estimated fair values as of the respective acquisition dates. The fair values of identifiable intangible assets were based on valuations using the cost and income approaches. The cost approach is based on amounts that would be required to replace the asset (i.e., replacement cost). The income approach is based on management’s estimates of future operating results and cash flows discounted using a weighted-average cost of capital that reflects market participant assumptions. The excess of the fair value of the consideration conveyed over the fair value of the net assets acquired was recorded as goodwill. The goodwill reflects our expectations of our ability to utilize the acquired locations’ mobile workforce and established relationships within each community and the benefits of being able to leverage operational efficiencies with favorable growth opportunities based on positive demographic trends in these markets. All goodwill recorded as a result of these transactions is deductible for federal income tax purposes.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)$0.2Trade names (useful lives of 1 year)0.2Certificate of needs (useful lives of 10 years)1.9Licenses (useful lives of 10 years)1.1Goodwill16.3Total assets acquired19.7Total liabilities assumed(0.1)Net assets acquired$19.6Information regarding the net cash paid for home health and hospice acquisitions during each period presented is as follows (in millions): Three Months Ended September 30,  Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015Fair value of assets acquired$1.9 $1.9 $3.4 $10.4Goodwill8.3 7.5 16.3 20.3Fair value of liabilities assumed— (0.1) (0.1) (0.2)Net cash paid for acquisitions$10.2 $9.3 $19.6 $30.5Pro Forma Results of OperationsThe following table summarizes the results of operations of the above mentioned inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and home health and hospice agencies 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 September 30, 2016$8.7 $(2.3)Combined entity: Supplemental pro forma from 07/01/2016-09/30/2016929.2 62.0Combined entity: Supplemental pro forma from 07/01/2015-09/30/2015786.7 51.4Combined entity: Supplemental pro forma from 01/01/2016-09/30/20162,773.9 184.0Combined entity: Supplemental pro forma from 01/01/2015-09/30/20152,308.2 136.8See Note 2, Business Combinations, to the consolidated financial statements accompanying the 2015 Form 10-K for information regarding acquisitions completed in 2015. |

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| - Definition
The entire disclosure for a business combination (or series of individually immaterial business combinations) completed during the period, including background, timing, and recognized assets and liabilities. The disclosure may include leverage buyout transactions (as applicable).
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