| **Business Combinations - Table 2 (Details) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified**                       | 3 Months Ended | 4 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
||
| **Summary of Actual and Pro Forma Results of Operations for Acquisitions**                                         |           |           |           |   |   |
| Acquired entities only: Actual from acquisition date to September 30, 2014, Net Operating Revenues                 |           |           | $ 15.4         |   |   |
| Acquired entities only: Actual from acquisition date to September 30, 2014, Net Income Attributable to HealthSouth |           |           | 2.6            |   |   |
| Combined entity: Supplemental pro forma, Net Operating Revenues                                                    | 596.9          | 574.8          |           | 1,811.3 | 1,734.4 |
| Combined entity: Supplemental pro forma, Net Income Attributable to HealthSouth                                    | $ 50.1         | $ 59.3         |           | $ 181.6 | $ 278.0 |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                   |
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The pro forma net Income or Loss for the period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.
+ References
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
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| - Definition
The pro forma revenue for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of the period.
+ References
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
This element represents the amount of earnings or loss of the acquiree since the acquisition date included in the consolidated income statement for the reporting period.
+ References
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
This element represents the amount of revenue of the acquiree since the acquisition date included in the consolidated income statement for the reporting period.
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