| **Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Tables)**   | 3 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 9 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       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| **Condensed Consolidating Financial Information [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          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| Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations              |  Three Months Ended September 30, 2012 HealthSouth Corporation Guarantor Subsidiaries Non Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminating Entries HealthSouth Consolidated (In Millions)Net operating revenues$7.3 $380.6 $164.6 $(15.5) $537.0Less: Provision for doubtful accounts(0.1) (4.6) (2.3) — (7.0)Net operating revenues less provision for doubtful accounts7.2 376.0 162.3 (15.5) 530.0Operating expenses:         Salaries and benefits7.6 179.7 78.4 (3.4) 262.3Other operating expenses4.9 53.4 25.0 (7.9) 75.4General and administrative expenses29.3 — — — 29.3Supplies0.2 16.8 6.8 — 23.8Depreciation and amortization2.3 14.5 4.5 — 21.3Occupancy costs1.3 10.8 3.9 (4.2) 11.8Loss on disposal of assets— 1.5 0.1 — 1.6Government, class action, and related settlements(3.5) — — — (3.5)Professional fees—accounting, tax, and legal4.1 — — — 4.1Total operating expenses46.2 276.7 118.7 (15.5) 426.1Loss on early extinguishment of debt1.3 — — — 1.3Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees21.2 1.9 0.7 (0.3) 23.5Other income(0.7) (5.0) (0.7) 0.3 (6.1)Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates(1.4) (1.9) — — (3.3)Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates(67.6) (4.8) — 72.4 —Management fees(23.8) 18.5 5.3 — —Income from continuing operations before income tax (benefit) expense32.0 90.6 38.3 (72.4) 88.5Provision for income tax (benefit) expense(15.2) 33.9 9.4 — 28.1Income from continuing operations47.2 56.7 28.9 (72.4) 60.4(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax(0.1) 0.2 (0.6) — (0.5)Net Income47.1 56.9 28.3 (72.4) 59.9Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests— — (12.8) — (12.8)Net income attributable to HealthSouth$47.1 $56.9 $15.5 $(72.4) $47.1Comprehensive income$48.2 $56.9 $28.3 $(72.4) $61.0Comprehensive income attributable to HealthSouth$48.2 $56.9 $15.5 $(72.4) $48.2 |  Three Months Ended September 30, 2011 HealthSouth Corporation Guarantor Subsidiaries Non Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminating Entries HealthSouth Consolidated (In Millions)Net operating revenues$5.6 $352.3 $151.1 $(11.3) $497.7Less: Provision for doubtful accounts(0.1) (3.5) (1.5) — (5.1)Net operating revenues less provision for doubtful accounts5.5 348.8 149.6 (11.3) 492.6Operating expenses:         Salaries and benefits7.4 169.3 71.7 (3.4) 245.0Other operating expenses3.4 49.5 22.8 (5.4) 70.3General and administrative expenses26.4 — — — 26.4Supplies0.2 17.4 7.1 — 24.7Depreciation and amortization2.3 13.0 4.2 — 19.5Occupancy costs1.4 9.2 4.4 (2.5) 12.5Loss on disposal of assets— 2.8 — — 2.8Professional fees—accounting, tax, and legal4.0 — — — 4.0Total operating expenses45.1 261.2 110.2 (11.3) 405.2Loss on early extinguishment of debt12.7 — — — 12.7Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees23.8 2.1 0.7 (0.3) 26.3Other expense (income)0.2 — (0.7) 0.3 (0.2)Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates(0.7) (2.4) — — (3.1)Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates(82.8) (2.5) — 85.3 —Management fees(22.9) 17.5 5.4 — —Income from continuing operations before income tax (benefit) expense30.1 72.9 34.0 (85.3) 51.7Provision for income tax (benefit) expense(23.9) 33.3 8.7 — 18.1Income from continuing operations54.0 39.6 25.3 (85.3) 33.6Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax3.0 33.7 (2.0) — 34.7Net Income57.0 73.3 23.3 (85.3) 68.3Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests— — (11.3) — (11.3)Net income attributable to HealthSouth$57.0 $73.3 $12.0 $(85.3) $57.0Comprehensive income$56.3 $73.3 $23.3 $(85.3) $67.6Comprehensive income attributable to HealthSouth$56.3 $73.3 $12.0 $(85.3) $56.3 |  Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 HealthSouth Corporation Guarantor Subsidiaries Non Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminating Entries HealthSouth Consolidated (In Millions)Net operating revenues$19.6 $1,151.6 $481.6 $(43.8) $1,609.0Less: Provision for doubtful accounts(0.5) (13.6) (5.7) — (19.8)Net operating revenues less provision for doubtful accounts19.1 1,138.0 475.9 (43.8) 1,589.2Operating expenses:         Salaries and benefits22.6 540.5 227.8 (10.2) 780.7Other operating expenses13.6 158.9 71.4 (21.1) 222.8General and administrative expenses87.3 — — — 87.3Supplies0.5 54.2 21.5 — 76.2Depreciation and amortization6.6 42.0 12.2 — 60.8Occupancy costs3.8 32.7 12.6 (12.5) 36.6Loss on disposal of assets— 2.9 0.1 — 3.0Government, class action, and related settlements(3.5) — — — (3.5)Professional fees—accounting, tax, and legal13.2 — — — 13.2Total operating expenses144.1 831.2 345.6 (43.8) 1,277.1Loss on early extinguishment of debt1.3 — — — 1.3Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees63.1 5.7 1.9 (0.9) 69.8Other income(1.1) (5.1) (2.1) 0.9 (7.4)Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates(3.3) (6.4) — — (9.7)Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates(204.6) (15.6) — 220.2 —Management fees(72.2) 56.0 16.2 — —Income from continuing operations before income tax (benefit) expense91.8 272.2 114.3 (220.2) 258.1Provision for income tax (benefit) expense(45.6) 101.9 27.8 — 84.1Income from continuing operations137.4 170.3 86.5 (220.2) 174.0Income from discontinued operations, net of tax0.6 0.7 1.3 — 2.6Net Income138.0 171.0 87.8 (220.2) 176.6Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests— — (38.6) — (38.6)Net income attributable to HealthSouth$138.0 $171.0 $49.2 $(220.2) $138.0Comprehensive income$140.1 $171.0 $87.8 $(220.2) $178.7Comprehensive income attributable to HealthSouth$140.1 $171.0 $49.2 $(220.2) $140.1 |  Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 HealthSouth Corporation Guarantor Subsidiaries Non Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminating Entries HealthSouth Consolidated (In Millions)Net operating revenues$16.0 $1,079.6 $446.7 $(33.5) $1,508.8Less: Provision for doubtful accounts(0.3) (10.5) (4.1) — (14.9)Net operating revenues less provision for doubtful accounts15.7 1,069.1 442.6 (33.5) 1,493.9Operating expenses:         Salaries and benefits17.9 510.7 212.1 (10.1) 730.6Other operating expenses17.5 149.0 66.1 (16.0) 216.6General and administrative expenses80.7 — — — 80.7Supplies0.5 54.7 21.5 — 76.7Depreciation and amortization7.3 38.8 12.5 — 58.6Occupancy costs3.5 27.0 13.1 (7.4) 36.2Loss on disposal of assets— 2.9 1.0 — 3.9Government, class action, and related settlements(10.6) — — — (10.6)Professional fees—accounting, tax, and legal16.2 — — — 16.2Total operating expenses133.0 783.1 326.3 (33.5) 1,208.9Loss on early extinguishment of debt38.8 — — — 38.8Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees88.8 6.4 2.0 (0.9) 96.3Other income(0.1) (0.1) (2.2) 0.9 (1.5)Equity in net income of nonconsolidated affiliates(2.3) (6.5) — — (8.8)Equity in net income of consolidated affiliates(196.6) (11.1) — 207.7 —Management fees(70.9) 55.1 15.8 — —Income from continuing operations before income tax (benefit) expense25.0 242.2 100.7 (207.7) 160.2Provision for income tax (benefit) expense(113.3) 109.5 25.7 — 21.9Income from continuing operations138.3 132.7 75.0 (207.7) 138.3Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax20.4 36.2 (2.8) — 53.8Net Income158.7 168.9 72.2 (207.7) 192.1Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests— — (33.4) — (33.4)Net income attributable to HealthSouth$158.7 $168.9 $38.8 $(207.7) $158.7Comprehensive income$158.4 $168.9 $72.2 $(207.7) $191.8Comprehensive income attributable to HealthSouth$158.4 $168.9 $38.8 $(207.7) $158.4 |   |
| Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet                        |  As of September 30, 2012 HealthSouth Corporation Guarantor Subsidiaries Non Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminating Entries HealthSouth Consolidated (In Millions)Assets         Current assets:         Cash and cash equivalents$159.2 $1.9 $2.1 $— $163.2Accounts receivable, net2.3 173.3 71.9 — 247.5Other current assets54.1 28.0 90.3 (34.3) 138.1Total current assets215.6 203.2 164.3 (34.3) 548.8Property and equipment, net13.6 541.2 184.5 — 739.3Goodwill— 266.1 171.2 — 437.3Intangible assets, net20.6 39.2 13.8 — 73.6Deferred income tax assets451.9 27.3 46.6 0.7 526.5Other long-term assets71.8 21.2 37.7 — 130.7Intercompany receivable1,220.5 — — (1,220.5) —Total assets$1,994.0 $1,098.2 $618.1 $(1,254.1) $2,456.2Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit)         Current liabilities:         Accounts payable$8.9 $32.0 $11.0 $— $51.9Accrued expenses and other current liabilities206.3 70.4 83.5 (34.3) 325.9Total current liabilities215.2 102.4 94.5 (34.3) 377.8Long-term debt, net of current portion1,147.4 65.6 29.3 — 1,242.3Other long-term liabilities44.5 11.3 82.1 — 137.9Intercompany payable— 569.6 998.7 (1,568.3) — 1,407.1 748.9 1,204.6 (1,602.6) 1,758.0Commitments and contingencies    Convertible perpetual preferred stock342.2 — — — 342.2Shareholders' equity (deficit) :         HealthSouth shareholders' equity (deficit)244.7 349.3 (697.8) 348.5 244.7Noncontrolling interests— — 111.3 — 111.3Total shareholders' equity (deficit)244.7 349.3 (586.5) 348.5 356.0Total liabilities and shareholders' equity (deficit)$1,994.0 $1,098.2 $618.1 $(1,254.1) $2,456.2                                                                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |  As of September 30, 2012 HealthSouth Corporation Guarantor Subsidiaries Non Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminating Entries HealthSouth Consolidated (In Millions)Assets         Current assets:         Cash and cash equivalents$159.2 $1.9 $2.1 $— $163.2Accounts receivable, net2.3 173.3 71.9 — 247.5Other current assets54.1 28.0 90.3 (34.3) 138.1Total current assets215.6 203.2 164.3 (34.3) 548.8Property and equipment, net13.6 541.2 184.5 — 739.3Goodwill— 266.1 171.2 — 437.3Intangible assets, net20.6 39.2 13.8 — 73.6Deferred income tax assets451.9 27.3 46.6 0.7 526.5Other long-term assets71.8 21.2 37.7 — 130.7Intercompany receivable1,220.5 — — (1,220.5) —Total assets$1,994.0 $1,098.2 $618.1 $(1,254.1) $2,456.2Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit)         Current liabilities:         Accounts payable$8.9 $32.0 $11.0 $— $51.9Accrued expenses and other current liabilities206.3 70.4 83.5 (34.3) 325.9Total current liabilities215.2 102.4 94.5 (34.3) 377.8Long-term debt, net of current portion1,147.4 65.6 29.3 — 1,242.3Other long-term liabilities44.5 11.3 82.1 — 137.9Intercompany payable— 569.6 998.7 (1,568.3) — 1,407.1 748.9 1,204.6 (1,602.6) 1,758.0Commitments and contingencies    Convertible perpetual preferred stock342.2 — — — 342.2Shareholders' equity (deficit) :         HealthSouth shareholders' equity (deficit)244.7 349.3 (697.8) 348.5 244.7Noncontrolling interests— — 111.3 — 111.3Total shareholders' equity (deficit)244.7 349.3 (586.5) 348.5 356.0Total liabilities and shareholders' equity (deficit)$1,994.0 $1,098.2 $618.1 $(1,254.1) $2,456.2                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |   |  As of December 31, 2011 HealthSouth Corporation Guarantor Subsidiaries Non Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminating Entries HealthSouth Consolidated (In Millions)Assets         Current assets:         Cash and cash equivalents$26.0 $1.3 $2.8 $— $30.1Accounts receivable, net2.4 154.4 66.0 — 222.8Other current assets43.4 30.9 67.8 (4.0) 138.1Total current assets71.8 186.6 136.6 (4.0) 391.0Property and equipment, net13.6 499.3 151.5 — 664.4Goodwill— 266.1 155.6 — 421.7Intangible assets, net12.0 37.4 8.3 — 57.7Deferred income tax assets533.9 27.3 46.9 — 608.1Other long-term assets62.3 32.0 40.2 (6.2) 128.3Intercompany receivable1,141.8 605.8 — (1,747.6) —Total assets$1,835.4 $1,654.5 $539.1 $(1,757.8) $2,271.2Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit)         Current liabilities:         Accounts payable$5.1 $28.7 $11.6 $— $45.4Accrued expenses and other current liabilities138.7 66.3 66.8 (4.0) 267.8Total current liabilities143.8 95.0 78.4 (4.0) 313.2Long-term debt, net of current portion1,144.6 73.2 24.2 (6.2) 1,235.8Other long-term liabilities42.6 10.9 79.7 — 133.2Intercompany payable— — 1,308.1 (1,308.1) — 1,331.0 179.1 1,490.4 (1,318.3) 1,682.2Commitments and contingencies    Convertible perpetual preferred stock387.4 — — — 387.4Shareholders' equity (deficit)         HealthSouth shareholders' equity (deficit)117.0 1,475.4 (1,035.9) (439.5) 117.0Noncontrolling interests— — 84.6 — 84.6Total shareholders' equity (deficit)117.0 1,475.4 (951.3) (439.5) 201.6Total liabilities and shareholders' equity (deficit)$1,835.4 $1,654.5 $539.1 $(1,757.8) $2,271.2 |
| Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |  Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 HealthSouth Corporation Guarantor Subsidiaries Non Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminating Entries HealthSouth Consolidated (In Millions)Net cash provided by operating activities$22.9 $180.7 $99.3 $(0.7) $302.2Cash flows from investing activities:         Purchases of property and equipment(3.5) (76.1) (32.9) — (112.5)Capitalized software costs(9.5) (3.2) (3.0) — (15.7)Purchase of restricted investments— — (8.6) — (8.6)Net change in restricted cash(0.1) — 7.7 — 7.6Other(0.1) (3.2) 0.5 — (2.8)Net cash provided by investing activities of discontinued operations— 3.3 4.4 — 7.7Net cash used in investing activities(13.2) (79.2) (31.9) — (124.3)Cash flows from financing activities:         Proceeds from bond issuance275.0 — — — 275.0Principal payments on debt, including pre-payments(100.4) (0.9) — — (101.3)Borrowings on revolving credit facility135.0 — — — 135.0Payments on revolving credit facility(245.0) — — — (245.0)Principal payments under capital lease obligations(0.2) (6.6) (2.1) — (8.9)Repurchase of convertible perpetual preferred stock(46.0) — — — (46.0)Debt issue costs(6.8) — (0.2) — (7.0)Dividends paid on convertible perpetual preferred stock(18.9) — — — (18.9)Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests of consolidated affiliates— — (37.6) — (37.6)Contributions from consolidated affiliates— — 9.5 — 9.5Other7.7 — (7.3) — 0.4Change in intercompany advances123.1 (93.4) (30.4) 0.7 —Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities123.5 (100.9) (68.1) 0.7 (44.8)Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents133.2 0.6 (0.7) — 133.1Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year26.0 1.3 2.8 — 30.1Cash and cash equivalents at end of period$159.2 $1.9 $2.1 $— $163.2                                                                                                  |  Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 HealthSouth Corporation Guarantor Subsidiaries Non Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminating Entries HealthSouth Consolidated (In Millions)Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities$(131.5) $256.0 $88.6 $0.1 $213.2Cash flows from investing activities:         Purchases of property and equipment(2.0) (45.0) (8.9) — (55.9)Capitalized software costs(4.7) (1.2) (0.1) — (6.0)Purchase of restricted investments— — (8.0) — (8.0)Net change in restricted cash(0.1) — 6.4 — 6.3Net settlements on interest rate swaps(10.9) — — — (10.9)Other— (0.6) 0.6 — —Net cash provided by (used) in investing activities of discontinued operations—         Proceeds from sale of LTCHs107.9 — — — 107.9Other investing activities of discontinued operations— (0.3) (0.4) — (0.7)Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities90.2 (47.1) (10.4) — 32.7Cash flows from financing activities:         Principal borrowings on term loan100.0 — — — 100.0Proceeds from bond issuance120.0 — — — 120.0Principal payments on debt, including pre-payments(505.2) (0.8) 3.0 — (503.0)Borrowings on revolving credit facility338.0 — — — 338.0Payments on revolving credit facility(238.0) — — — (238.0)Principal payments under capital lease obligations(0.7) (7.7) (1.7) — (10.1)Debt issue costs(4.3) — — — (4.3)Dividends paid on convertible perpetual preferred stock(19.5) — — — (19.5)Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests of consolidated affiliates— — (34.0) — (34.0)Other4.3 — — — 4.3Change in intercompany advances245.7 (200.0) (45.6) (0.1) —Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities40.3 (208.5) (78.3) (0.1) (246.6)(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents(1.0) 0.4 (0.1) — (0.7)Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period45.8 0.1 2.4 — 48.3Cash and cash equivalents of facilities in discontinued operations at beginning of period0.1 — — — 0.1Cash and cash equivalents at end of period$44.9 $0.5 $2.3 $— $47.7 |   |

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