| **Investments in and Advances to Nonconsolidated Affiliates (Tables)**                                | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
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| **Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| Schedule of Aggregate Equity and Cost Method Investments                                              | Our investments consist of the following (in millions):  As of December 31, 2011 2010Equity method investments:   Capital contributions$7.2 $7.2Cumulative share of income100.0 88.0Cumulative share of distributions(80.1) (67.1) 27.1 28.1Cost method investments:   Capital contributions, net of distributions and impairments1.9 2.6Total investments in and advances to nonconsolidated affiliates$29.0 $30.7                                                                                                                                     |
| Schedule of Combined Assets, Liabilities, and Equity of Equity Method Affiliates                      | The following summarizes the combined assets, liabilities, and equity and the combined results of operations of our equity method affiliates (on a 100% basis, in millions):  As of December 31, 2011 2010Assets—   Current$17.4 $18.0Noncurrent73.4 73.7Total assets$90.8 $91.7Liabilities and equity—   Current liabilities$8.9 $7.5Noncurrent liabilities7.0 7.2Partners’ capital and shareholders’ equity—   HealthSouth27.1 28.1Outside partners47.8 48.9Total liabilities and equity$90.8 $91.7 |
| Schedule of Combined Results of Operations of Equity Method Affiliates                                | Condensed statements of operations (in millions):  For the Year Ended December 31, 2011 2010 2009Net operating revenues$87.0 $79.8 $73.1Operating expenses(53.1) (51.6) (47.2)Income from continuing operations, net of tax26.5 23.0 20.5Net income26.5 23.0 20.5                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |

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| - Definition
A tabular presentation of the Company's aggregate carrying value in its equity and cost method investments as of the balance sheet dates presented.
+ References
No definition available.
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| - Definition
A tabular presentation summarizing the combined assets, liabilities, and equity of the Company's equity method affiliates (on a 100% basis) as of the balance sheet dates presented.
+ References
No definition available.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the combined results of operations of our equity method affiliates (on a 100% basis) for the periods presented.
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No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**hls_ScheduleOfCombinedResultsOfOperationsOfEquityMethodAffiliatesTableTextBlock**Namespace Prefix:**hls_**Data Type:**nonnum:textBlockItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
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