| **Earnings per Common Share (Tables)**                          | 3 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 March 31,  2016 2015Basic:   Numerator:   Income from continuing operations$76.8 $59.3Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests included in continuing operations(18.7) (16.5)Less: Income allocated to participating securities(0.2) (0.3)Less: Convertible perpetual preferred stock dividends— (1.6)Income from continuing operations attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders57.9 40.9Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders(0.1) (0.3)Net income attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders$57.8 $40.6Denominator:   Basic weighted average common shares outstanding89.5 87.1Basic earnings per share attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders:   Continuing operations$0.65 $0.47Discontinued operations— —Net income$0.65 $0.47    Diluted:   Numerator:   Income from continuing operations$76.8 $59.3Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests included in continuing operations(18.7) (16.5)Add: Interest on convertible debt, net of tax2.4 2.3Income from continuing operations attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders60.5 45.1Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders(0.1) (0.3)Net income attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders$60.4 $44.8Denominator:   Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding99.4 101.1Diluted earnings per share attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders:   Continuing operations$0.61 $0.44Discontinued operations— —Net income$0.61 $0.44 |
| 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 March 31,  2016 2015Basic weighted average common shares outstanding89.5 87.1Convertible perpetual preferred stock— 3.2Convertible senior subordinated notes8.4 8.2Restricted stock awards, dilutive stock options, restricted stock units, and common stock warrants1.5 2.6Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding99.4 101.1                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |

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| - Definition
This table sets forth the reconciliation between basic weighted average common shares outstanding and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding.
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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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