| **Earnings per Common Share (Tables)**                          | 3 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
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| **Earnings Per Share [Abstract]**                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |   |
| Schedule of Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | The revision for the three months ended March 31, 2013 is presented below.  2013  First QuarterBasic earnings per share attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders, as reported:  Continuing operations $0.49Discontinued operations —Net income $0.49Basic earnings per share attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders as revised using the two-class method:  Continuing operations $0.48Discontinued operations —Net income $0.48 |
| 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, 2014 2013Basic:   Numerator:   Income from continuing operations$61.6 $66.3Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests included in continuing operations(14.8) (14.6)Less: Income allocated to participating securities(0.5) (0.8)Less: Convertible perpetual preferred stock dividends(1.6) (5.7)Income from continuing operations attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders44.7 45.2Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders(0.1) (0.4)Net income attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders$44.6 $44.8Denominator:   Basic weighted average common shares outstanding87.3 94.0Basic earnings per share attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders:   Continuing operations$0.51 $0.48Discontinued operations— —Net income$0.51 $0.48    Diluted:   Numerator:   Income from continuing operations$61.6 $66.3Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests included in continuing operations(14.8) (14.6)Add: Interest on convertible debt, net of tax2.2 —Income from continuing operations attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders49.0 51.7Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders(0.1) (0.4)Net income attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders$48.9 $51.3Denominator:   Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding100.9 107.1Diluted earnings per share attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders:   Continuing operations$0.48 $0.48Discontinued operations— —Net income$0.48 $0.48 |   |
| 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, 2014 2013Basic weighted average common shares outstanding87.3 94.0Convertible perpetual preferred stock3.2 11.6Convertible senior subordinated notes8.1 —Restricted stock awards, dilutive stock options, and restricted stock units2.3 1.5Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding100.9 107.1                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |   |
| Schedule of Warrants                                            | The following table summarizes information relating to these warrants and their activity from December 31, 2013 through their expiration date (number of warrants in millions): Number of Warrants Weighted Average Exercise PriceCommon stock warrants outstanding as of December 31, 20132.9 $32.50Cashless exercise(1.8) 32.16Cash exercise(1.0) 32.16Expired(0.1) 32.16Common stock warrants outstanding as of January 16, 2014—                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |   |

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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
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of prior period adjustments to previously issued financial statements including (1) the effect of the correction on each financial statement line item and any per-share amounts affected for each prior period presented (2) the cumulative effect of the change on retained earnings or other appropriate components of equity or net assets in the statement of financial position, as of the beginning of the earliest period presented, and (3) the effect of the prior period adjustments (both gross and net of applicable income tax) on the net income of each prior period presented in the entity's annual report for the year in which the adjustments are made.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of warrants or rights issued. Warrants and rights outstanding are derivative securities that give the holder the right to purchase securities (usually equity) from the issuer at a specific price within a certain time frame. Warrants are often included in a new debt issue to entice investors by a higher return potential. The main difference between warrants and call options is that warrants are issued and guaranteed by the company, whereas options are exchange instruments and are not issued by the company. Also, the lifetime of a warrant is often measured in years, while the lifetime of a typical option is measured in months. Disclose the title of issue of securities called for by warrants and rights outstanding, the aggregate amount of securities called for by warrants and rights outstanding, the date from which the warrants or rights are exercisable, and the price at which the warrant or right is exercisable.
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