| **Business Combinations (Tables)**                                     | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
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| **Business Combinations [Abstract]**                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| Schedule of Aggregate Purchase Price Allocation of Acquisitions        | The following table summarizes the allocation of the aggregate purchase price as of the acquisition dates for the above mentioned acquisitions that occurred in 2010 (in millions):Property and equipment, net$17.6Identifiable intangible assets: Noncompete agreements (useful lives range from 16 months to 6 years)11.4Tradenames (useful lives are 10 years)1.2Licenses (useful lives are 20 years)0.4Goodwill12.6Total assets acquired43.2Total current liabilities assumed(0.7)Total allocation of purchase price consideration$42.5                                                                                                                                                                 |
| Summary of Actual and Pro Forma Results of Operations for Acquisitions | The following table summarizes the aggregate results of operations of the above mentioned transactions 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, 2009 (in millions): Net OperatingRevenues Net IncomeAttributable toHealthSouthAcquired entities only: Actual from acquisition date to December 31, 2010(a)$10.1 $0.4Combined entity: Supplemental pro forma from 1/01/2010-12/31/2010 (unaudited)1,896.1 902.7Combined entity: Supplemental pro forma from 1/01/2009-12/31/2009 (unaudited)1,817.1 100.2 |

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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure for a reporting period of the aggregate results of operations for the Company's business combinations from their respective dates of acquisition  that are included in the Company's consolidated results of operations along with the unaudited pro forma results of operations of the combined entity had the acquisitions been January 1st of the previous year.
+ References
No definition available.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of all of the fair values of the purchase price and assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Topic 805 -SubTopic 30 -Publisher FASB -Number  -Article  -Subparagraph  -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Paragraph 1 -Section 50 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911361&loc=d3e6927-128479
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