| **Earnings per Common Share (Tables)**                          | 9 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 September 30,  Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015Basic:       Numerator:       Income from continuing operations$78.2 $67.5 $236.3 $188.6Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests included in continuing operations(16.4) (17.1) (53.7) (50.9)Less: Income allocated to participating securities(0.2) (0.3) (0.6) (0.9)Less: Convertible perpetual preferred stock dividends— — — (1.6)Income from continuing operations attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders61.6 50.1 182.0 135.2(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax, attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders(0.1) 0.3 (0.3) (1.6)Net income attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders$61.5 $50.4 $181.7 $133.6Denominator:       Basic weighted average common shares outstanding89.1 90.6 89.3 89.1Basic earnings per share attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders:       Continuing operations$0.69 $0.56 $2.03 $1.52Discontinued operations— — — (0.02)Net income$0.69 $0.56 $2.03 $1.50        Diluted:       Numerator:       Income from continuing operations$78.2 $67.5 $236.3 $188.6Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests included in continuing operations(16.4) (17.1) (53.7) (50.9)Add: Interest on convertible debt, net of tax2.4 2.4 7.2 7.0Income from continuing operations attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders64.2 52.8 189.8 144.7(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax, attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders(0.1) 0.3 (0.3) (1.6)Net income attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders$64.1 $53.1 $189.5 $143.1Denominator:       Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding99.4 101.5 99.5 101.4Diluted earnings per share attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders:       Continuing operations$0.64 $0.52 $1.90 $1.43Discontinued operations— — — (0.02)Net income$0.64 $0.52 $1.90 $1.41 |
| 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 September 30,  Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015Basic weighted average common shares outstanding89.1 90.6 89.3 89.1Convertible perpetual preferred stock— — — 1.3Convertible senior subordinated notes8.5 8.4 8.5 8.3Restricted stock awards, dilutive stock options, restricted stock units, and common stock warrants1.8 2.5 1.7 2.7Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding99.4 101.5 99.5 101.4                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |

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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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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the weighted average number of shares used in calculating basic net earnings per share (or unit) and diluted earnings per share (or unit).
+ 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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