| **Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified** | 12 Months Ended                                                                                         |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
||
| Net income                                                                                         | $ 281.7us-gaap_ProfitLoss                                                                               | $ 381.4us-gaap_ProfitLoss | $ 235.9us-gaap_ProfitLoss |
| **Net change in unrealized (loss) gain on available-for-sale securities:**                         |                                                                                                    |   |   |
| Unrealized net holding (loss) gain arising during the period                                       | (0.2)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax  | (0.7)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax | 1.6us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodBeforeTax |
| Reclassifications to net income                                                                    | (0.5)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesBeforeTax | (0.9)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesBeforeTax | 0us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesBeforeTax |
| Other comprehensive (loss) income before income taxes                                              | (0.7)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTax                                                      | (1.6)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTax | 1.6us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTax |
| Provision for income tax benefit related to other comprehensive (loss) income items                | 0.3us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax                                                              | 0.1us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax | 0us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax |
| Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax:                                                     | (0.4)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax                                                       | (1.5)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax | 1.6us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax |
| Comprehensive income                                                                               | 281.3us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest            | 379.9us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest | 237.5us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest |
| Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests                                      | (59.7)us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest                           | (57.8)us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest | (50.9)us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest |
| Comprehensive income attributable to HealthSouth                                                   | $ 221.6us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax                                                              | $ 322.1us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax | $ 186.6us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax |

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|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income and other comprehensive income, attributable to parent entity. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.
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Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss), attributable to noncontrolling interests. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.
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Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income and other comprehensive income. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.
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| - Definition
Amount before tax, after reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss).
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Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss).
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Amount before tax of reclassification adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive income for unrealized gain (loss) realized upon the sale of available-for-sale securities.
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Amount of tax expense (benefit) allocated to other comprehensive income (loss).
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Amount before tax and reclassification adjustments of unrealized holding gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities.
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| - Definition
The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest.
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