| **Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Tables)**   | 3 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          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| **Condensed Consolidating Financial Information [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             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| Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations              |  Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 HealthSouth Corporation Guarantor Subsidiaries Nonguarantor Subsidiaries Eliminating Entries HealthSouth Consolidated (In Millions)Net operating revenues$4.9 $550.7 $383.2 $(29.0) $909.8Less: Provision for doubtful accounts— (11.9) (4.6) — (16.5)Net operating revenues less provision for doubtful accounts4.9 538.8 378.6 (29.0) 893.3Operating expenses:         Salaries and benefits11.3 255.0 224.4 (4.6) 486.1Other operating expenses5.4 77.1 47.8 (11.1) 119.2Occupancy costs0.9 23.0 7.4 (13.3) 18.0Supplies— 23.2 11.8 — 35.0General and administrative expenses33.2 — (1.3) — 31.9Depreciation and amortization2.4 25.7 14.3 — 42.4Professional fees—accounting, tax, and legal0.2 — — — 0.2Total operating expenses53.4 404.0 304.4 (29.0) 732.8Loss on early extinguishment of debt2.4 — — — 2.4Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees38.9 5.2 5.3 (4.8) 44.6Other income(4.7) (0.1) (0.6) 4.8 (0.6)Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates— (2.1) (0.3) — (2.4)Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates(86.2) (8.2) — 94.4 —Management fees(34.2) 26.2 8.0 — —Income from continuing operations before income tax (benefit) expense35.3 113.8 61.8 (94.4) 116.5Provision for income tax (benefit) expense(22.8) 45.4 17.1 — 39.7Income from continuing operations58.1 68.4 44.7 (94.4) 76.8Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax(0.1) — — — (0.1)Net income58.0 68.4 44.7 (94.4) 76.7Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests— — (18.7) — (18.7)Net income attributable to HealthSouth$58.0 $68.4 $26.0 $(94.4) $58.0Comprehensive income$58.1 $68.4 $44.7 $(94.4) $76.8Comprehensive income attributable to HealthSouth$58.1 $68.4 $26.0 $(94.4) $58.1 Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 HealthSouth Corporation Guarantor Subsidiaries Nonguarantor Subsidiaries Eliminating Entries HealthSouth Consolidated (In Millions)Net operating revenues$5.3 $456.8 $303.2 $(24.7) $740.6Less: Provision for doubtful accounts— (9.0) (2.6) — (11.6)Net operating revenues less provision for doubtful accounts5.3 447.8 300.6 (24.7) 729.0Operating expenses:         Salaries and benefits8.1 211.1 170.0 (4.1) 385.1Other operating expenses9.5 63.1 41.0 (10.4) 103.2Occupancy costs1.1 15.3 5.9 (10.2) 12.1Supplies— 20.8 10.6 — 31.4General and administrative expenses34.3 — 0.3 — 34.6Depreciation and amortization2.3 19.1 10.5 — 31.9Government, class action, and related settlements8.0 — — — 8.0Professional fees—accounting, tax, and legal2.2 — — — 2.2Total operating expenses65.5 329.4 238.3 (24.7) 608.5Loss on early extinguishment of debt1.2 — — — 1.2Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees29.2 2.3 2.7 (2.4) 31.8Other income(2.3) — (0.6) 2.4 (0.5)Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates— (1.6) — — (1.6)Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates(78.6) (8.1) — 86.7 —Management fees(28.5) 21.7 6.8 — —Income from continuing operations before income tax (benefit) expense18.8 104.1 53.4 (86.7) 89.6Provision for income tax (benefit) expense(24.0) 39.6 14.7 — 30.3Income from continuing operations42.8 64.5 38.7 (86.7) 59.3Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax(0.3) — — — (0.3)Net income42.5 64.5 38.7 (86.7) 59.0Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests— — (16.5) — (16.5)Net income attributable to HealthSouth$42.5 $64.5 $22.2 $(86.7) $42.5Comprehensive income$42.6 $64.5 $38.7 $(86.7) $59.1Comprehensive income attributable to HealthSouth$42.6 $64.5 $22.2 $(86.7) $42.6                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet                        |  As of March 31, 2016 HealthSouth Corporation Guarantor Subsidiaries Nonguarantor Subsidiaries Eliminating Entries HealthSouth Consolidated (In Millions)Assets         Current assets:         Cash and cash equivalents$47.8 $2.7 $22.7 $— $73.2Accounts receivable, net— 277.7 154.2 — 431.9Other current assets59.1 21.6 127.5 (81.2) 127.0Total current assets106.9 302.0 304.4 (81.2) 632.1Property and equipment, net15.8 960.5 341.4 — 1,317.7Goodwill— 863.2 1,028.7 — 1,891.9Intangible assets, net11.2 122.0 282.6 — 415.8Deferred income tax assets131.3 63.2 — (49.5) 145.0Other long-term assets48.2 81.0 76.6 — 205.8Intercompany notes receivable541.3 — — (541.3) —Intercompany receivable and investments in consolidated affiliates2,802.0 — — (2,802.0) —Total assets$3,656.7 $2,391.9 $2,033.7 $(3,474.0) $4,608.3Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity        Current liabilities:        Current portion of long-term debt$40.1 $6.6 $7.4 $(17.5) $36.6Accounts payable6.0 38.2 18.5 — 62.7Accrued expenses and other current liabilities151.3 90.4 186.5 (63.7) 364.5Total current liabilities197.4 135.2 212.4 (81.2) 463.8Long-term debt, net of current portion2,769.7 254.0 55.9 — 3,079.6Intercompany notes payable— — 541.3 (541.3) —Other long-term liabilities40.1 14.3 139.6 (49.2) 144.8Intercompany payable— 42.5 176.9 (219.4) — 3,007.2 446.0 1,126.1 (891.1) 3,688.2Commitments and contingencies    Redeemable noncontrolling interests— — 96.2 — 96.2Shareholders’ equity:        HealthSouth shareholders’ equity649.5 1,945.9 637.0 (2,582.9) 649.5Noncontrolling interests— — 174.4 — 174.4Total shareholders’ equity649.5 1,945.9 811.4 (2,582.9) 823.9Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity$3,656.7 $2,391.9 $2,033.7 $(3,474.0) $4,608.3 As of December 31, 2015 HealthSouth Corporation Guarantor Subsidiaries Nonguarantor Subsidiaries Eliminating Entries HealthSouth Consolidated (In Millions)Assets         Current assets:         Cash and cash equivalents$41.2 $1.3 $19.1 $— $61.6Accounts receivable, net— 267.2 143.3 — 410.5Other current assets29.3 22.7 93.4 (18.8) 126.6Total current assets70.5 291.2 255.8 (18.8) 598.7Property and equipment, net14.5 965.7 329.9 — 1,310.1Goodwill— 863.2 1,026.9 — 1,890.1Intangible assets, net8.8 123.2 287.4 — 419.4Deferred income tax assets176.2 64.1 — (49.5) 190.8Other long-term assets48.6 75.3 73.1 — 197.0Intercompany notes receivable546.6 — — (546.6) —Intercompany receivable and investments in consolidated affiliates2,779.7 — — (2,779.7) —Total assets$3,644.9 $2,382.7 $1,973.1 $(3,394.6) $4,606.1Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity        Current liabilities:        Current portion of long-term debt$40.0 $6.8 $7.5 $(17.5) $36.8Accounts payable5.8 35.2 20.6 — 61.6Accrued expenses and other current liabilities122.2 72.6 134.5 (1.3) 328.0Total current liabilities168.0 114.6162.6(18.8) 426.4Long-term debt, net of current portion2,821.9 255.6 57.2 — 3,134.7Intercompany notes payable— — 546.6 (546.6) —Other long-term liabilities43.6 12.4 137.7 (49.1) 144.6Intercompany payable— 141.7 179.1 (320.8) — 3,033.5 524.31,083.2(935.3) 3,705.7Commitments and contingencies    Redeemable noncontrolling interests— — 121.1 — 121.1Shareholders’ equity:        HealthSouth shareholders’ equity611.4 1,858.4 600.9 (2,459.3) 611.4Noncontrolling interests— — 167.9 — 167.9Total shareholders’ equity611.4 1,858.4768.8(2,459.3) 779.3Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity$3,644.9 $2,382.7$1,973.1$(3,394.6) $4,606.1 |
| Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows              |  Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 HealthSouth Corporation Guarantor Subsidiaries Nonguarantor Subsidiaries Eliminating Entries HealthSouth Consolidated (In Millions)Net cash provided by operating activities$4.0 $93.4 $62.4 $(0.1) $159.7Cash flows from investing activities:         Purchases of property and equipment(3.2) (13.4) (14.8) — (31.4)Capitalized software costs(7.7) — — — (7.7)Net change in restricted cash— — (3.2) — (3.2)Proceeds from repayment of intercompany notes receivable5.0 — — (5.0) —Other— (0.3) 3.1 — 2.8Net cash used in investing activities(5.9) (13.7)(14.9)(5.0) (39.5)Cash flows from financing activities:        Principal payments on debt, including pre-payments(55.6) (0.4) (0.3) — (56.3)Principal payments on intercompany notes payable— — (5.0) 5.0 —Borrowings on revolving credit facility60.0 — — — 60.0Payments on revolving credit facility(60.0) — — — (60.0)Repurchases of common stock, including fees and expenses(12.9) — — — (12.9)Dividends paid on common stock(21.3) — — — (21.3)Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests of consolidated affiliates— — (15.6) — (15.6)Other0.3 (1.4) (1.4) — (2.5)Change in intercompany advances98.0 (76.5) (21.6) 0.1 —Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities8.5 (78.3)(43.9)5.1 (108.6)Increase in cash and cash equivalents6.6 1.43.6— 11.6Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period41.2 1.3 19.1 — 61.6Cash and cash equivalents at end of period$47.8 $2.7$22.7$— $73.2 Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 HealthSouth Corporation Guarantor Subsidiaries Nonguarantor Subsidiaries Eliminating Entries HealthSouth Consolidated (In Millions)Net cash provided by operating activities$6.6 $53.0 $42.4 $— $102.0Cash flows from investing activities:         Purchases of property and equipment(2.4) (8.2) (7.1) — (17.7)Capitalized software costs(8.8) — (0.1) — (8.9)Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired— — (7.3) — (7.3)Net change in restricted cash— — (15.0) — (15.0)Other— 3.5 (0.3) — 3.2Net cash used in investing activities(11.2) (4.7) (29.8) — (45.7)Cash flows from financing activities:        Proceeds from bond issuance700.0 — — — 700.0Principal payments on debt, including pre-payments(252.5) (0.4) — — (252.9)Borrowings on revolving credit facility35.0 — — — 35.0Payments on revolving credit facility(350.0) — — — (350.0)Debt amendment and issuance costs(13.7) — — — (13.7)Dividends paid on common stock(18.6) — — — (18.6)Dividends paid on convertible perpetual preferred stock(1.6) — — — (1.6)Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests of consolidated affiliates— — (13.2) — (13.2)Other1.7 (0.6) (0.8) — 0.3Change in intercompany advances52.0 (47.8) (4.2) — —Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities152.3 (48.8) (18.2) — 85.3Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents147.7 (0.5) (5.6) — 141.6Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period41.9 1.5 23.3 — 66.7Cash and cash equivalents at end of period$189.6 $1.0 $17.7 $— $208.3                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |

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