| **Business Combinations - Table 2 (Details) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified**                  | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
||
| **Summary of Actual and Pro Forma Results of Operations for Acquisitions**                                    |           |           |           |   |   |
| Acquired entities only: Actual from acquisition date to June 30, 2014, Net Operating Revenues                 | $ 4.5          |           |           |   |   |
| Acquired entities only: Actual from acquisition date to June 30, 2014, Net Income Attributable to HealthSouth | 1.2            |           |           |   |   |
| Combined entity: Supplemental pro forma (unaudited), Net Operating Revenues                                   |           | 616.3          | 575.7          | 1,218.9 | 1,159.6 |
| Combined entity: Supplemental pro forma (unaudited), Net Income Attributable to HealthSouth                   |           | $ 85.0         | $ 166.3        | $ 132.7 | $ 218.7 |

| 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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - 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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