| **Earnings per Common Share**     | 9 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    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| **Earnings Per Share [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            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| Earnings per Common Share         | Earnings per Common ShareThe calculation of earnings per common share is based on the weighted-average number of our common shares outstanding during the applicable period. The calculation for diluted earnings per common share recognizes the effect of all dilutive potential common shares that were outstanding during the respective periods, unless their impact would be antidilutive. The calculation of earnings per common share also considers the effect of participating securities. Unvested stock-based compensation awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends and dividend equivalents, such as our nonvested restricted stock awards and restricted stock units, are considered participating securities and are included in the computation of earnings per common share pursuant to the two-class method. In applying the two-class method, earnings are allocated to both common stock shares and participating securities based on their respective weighted-average shares outstanding for the period. In conjunction with the initiation of quarterly cash dividends in the third quarter of 2013, we are revising our calculation to present earnings per share using the two-class method. The two-class method should have been used during all prior periods. We assessed the materiality of these revisions and concluded they were not material to any previously issued financial statements. As prior period financial information is presented in future filings, we will modify the presentation of earnings per share to include this immaterial revision to the calculation. Earnings per share amounts may not sum due to the weighted average common shares outstanding each quarter compared to the weighted average common shares outstanding during the year-to-date and full-year periods.  2013  First Quarter Second Quarter Six Months Ended June 30Basic earnings per share attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders, as reported:      Continuing operations $0.49 $1.85 $2.28Discontinued operations — — —Net income $0.49 $1.85 $2.28Basic earnings per share attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders as revised using the two-class method:      Continuing operations $0.48 $1.82 $2.24Discontinued operations — — —Net income $0.48 $1.82 $2.24  2012  First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter Full YearBasic earnings per share attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders, as reported:          Continuing operations $0.40 $0.39 $0.44 $0.42 $1.65Discontinued operations (0.01) 0.04 — 0.02 0.04Net income $0.39 $0.43 $0.44 $0.44 $1.69Basic earnings per share attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders as revised using the two-class method:          Continuing operations $0.39 $0.38 $0.44 $0.41 $1.62Discontinued operations — 0.04 (0.01) 0.02 0.05Net income $0.39 $0.42 $0.43 $0.43 $1.67  2011  First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter Full YearBasic earnings per share attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders, as reported:          Continuing operations $0.60 $0.14 $0.17 $0.52 $1.42Discontinued operations 0.19 0.03 0.37 (0.05) 0.54Net income $0.79 $0.17 $0.54 $0.47 $1.96Basic earnings per share attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders as revised using the two-class method:          Continuing operations $0.58 $0.14 $0.17 $0.50 $1.39Discontinued operations 0.19 0.02 0.36 (0.05) 0.52Net income $0.77 $0.16 $0.53 $0.45 $1.91  Year Ended December 31,  2010 2009 2008Basic earnings per share attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders, as reported:      Continuing operations $9.31 $0.58 $2.34Discontinued operations 0.10 0.19 0.39Net income $9.41 $0.77 $2.73Basic earnings per share attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders as revised using the two-class method:      Continuing operations $9.20 $0.57 $2.31Discontinued operations 0.10 0.20 0.39Net income $9.30 $0.77 $2.70The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share (in millions, except per share amounts): Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013 2012 2013 2012Basic:       Numerator:       Income from continuing operations$73.2 $60.4 $318.4 $174.0Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests included in continuing operations(14.1) (12.8) (42.5) (38.6)Less: Income allocated to participating securities(0.6) (0.6) (4.1) (1.6)Less: Convertible perpetual preferred stock dividends(5.7) (5.7) (17.2) (18.1)Less: Repurchase of convertible perpetual preferred stock— — — (0.8)Income from continuing operations attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders52.8 41.3 254.6 114.9(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax, attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders(0.9) (0.5) (1.2) 2.6Net income attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders$51.9 $40.8 $253.4 $117.5Denominator:       Basic weighted average common shares outstanding86.2 94.7 88.7 94.6Basic earnings per share attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders:       Continuing operations$0.61 $0.44 $2.87 $1.21Discontinued operations(0.01) (0.01) (0.01) 0.03Net income$0.60 $0.43 $2.86 $1.24        Diluted:       Numerator:       Income from continuing operations$73.2 $60.4 $318.4 $174.0Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests included in continuing operations(14.1) (12.8) (42.5) (38.6)Income from continuing operations attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders59.1 47.6 275.9 135.4(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax, attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders(0.9) (0.5) (1.2) 2.6Net income attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders$58.2 $47.1 $274.7 $138.0Denominator:       Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding100.4 108.1 102.4 108.2Diluted earnings per share attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders:       Continuing operations$0.59 $0.44 $2.69 $1.21Discontinued operations(0.01) (0.01) (0.01) 0.03Net income$0.58 $0.43 $2.68 $1.24The 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 September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013 2012 2013 2012Basic weighted average common shares outstanding86.2 94.7 88.7 94.6Convertible perpetual preferred stock11.6 11.6 11.6 12.2Restricted stock awards, dilutive stock options, and restricted stock units2.6 1.8 2.1 1.4Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding100.4 108.1 102.4 108.2For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, adding back the dividends for the Convertible perpetual preferred stock to our Income from continuing operations attributable to HealthSouth common shareholders causes a per share increase when calculating diluted earnings per common share resulting in an antidilutive per share amount. Therefore, basic and diluted earnings per common share are the same for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012. Options to purchase approximately 0.1 million and 1.8 million shares of common stock were outstanding as of September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted weighted-average shares because to do so would have been antidilutive.On February 15, 2013, our board of directors approved an increase in our existing common stock repurchase authorization from $125 million to $350 million. During the first quarter of 2013, we completed a tender offer for our common stock. As a result of the tender offer, we purchased approximately 9.1 million shares at a price of $25.50 per share for a total cost of approximately $234.1 million, including fees and expenses relating to the tender offer. The remaining repurchase authorization expired at the end of the tender offer.On July 25, 2013, our board of directors approved the initiation of a quarterly cash dividend on our common stock of $0.18 per share. The first quarterly dividend was paid on October 15, 2013 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on October 1, 2013. On October 25, 2013, our board of directors declared a cash dividend of $0.18 per share payable on January 15, 2014 to stockholders of record on January 2, 2014. Future dividend payments are subject to declaration by our board of directors. On October 25, 2013, our board of directors authorized the repurchase of up to $200 million of our common stock. The repurchase authorization does not require the repurchase of a specific number of shares, has an indefinite term, and is subject to termination at any time by our board of directors.See Note 11, Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, and Note 18, Earnings per Common Share, to the consolidated financial statements accompanying the 2012 Form 10-K for additional information related to common stock, common stock warrants, and convertible perpetual preferred stock. |

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The entire disclosure for earnings per share.
+ References
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