Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Segment Information (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Segment Information (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Revenue:        
Revenue $ 481,794us-gaap_Revenues $ 439,015us-gaap_Revenues $ 948,837us-gaap_Revenues $ 845,607us-gaap_Revenues
Revenue (as a percent) 100.00%mms_SegmentRevenueAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue 100.00%mms_SegmentRevenueAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue 100.00%mms_SegmentRevenueAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue 100.00%mms_SegmentRevenueAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
Gross profit:        
Gross profit 124,345us-gaap_GrossProfit 120,672us-gaap_GrossProfit 243,612us-gaap_GrossProfit 226,588us-gaap_GrossProfit
Gross profit (as a percent) 25.80%mms_SegmentGrossProfitAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue 27.50%mms_SegmentGrossProfitAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue 25.70%mms_SegmentGrossProfitAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue 26.80%mms_SegmentGrossProfitAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
Selling, general, and administrative expense:        
Selling, general and administrative expense 59,392us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense 53,624us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense 111,353us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense 104,889us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
Selling, general, and administrative expense (as a percent) 12.30%mms_SegmentSellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpenseAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue 12.20%mms_SegmentSellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpenseAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue 11.70%mms_SegmentSellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpenseAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue  
Operating income:        
Amortization of intangible assets (1,432)us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets (1,468)us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets (2,907)us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets (2,823)us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
Acquisition-related expenses (1,514)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts   (2,114)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts  
Legal and settlement expense   (600)mms_LegalAndSettlementExpense   (600)mms_LegalAndSettlementExpense
Operating income 62,007us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss 64,980us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss 127,238us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss 118,276us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Operating income (as a percent) 12.90%mms_SegmentOperatingIncomeLossAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue 14.80%mms_SegmentOperatingIncomeLossAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue 13.40%mms_SegmentOperatingIncomeLossAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue 14.00%mms_SegmentOperatingIncomeLossAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
Operating segments        
Operating income:        
Amortization of intangible assets (1,432)us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember 		(1,468)us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember 		(2,907)us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember 		(2,823)us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
Acquisition-related expenses (1,514)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember 		[1]   (2,114)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember 		[1]  
Legal and settlement expense   (600)mms_LegalAndSettlementExpense
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember 		[2]   (600)mms_LegalAndSettlementExpense
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember 		[2]
Other (95)us-gaap_OtherGeneralExpense
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember 		37us-gaap_OtherGeneralExpense
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember 		(100)us-gaap_OtherGeneralExpense
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember 		21us-gaap_OtherGeneralExpense
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
Other        
Selling, general, and administrative expense:        
Selling, general and administrative expense 95us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember 		(37)us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember 		100us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember 		(21)us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
Health Services | Operating segments        
Revenue:        
Revenue 370,383us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember 		323,598us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember 		721,682us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember 		622,182us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember
Revenue (as a percent) 100.00%mms_SegmentRevenueAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember 		100.00%mms_SegmentRevenueAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember 		100.00%mms_SegmentRevenueAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember 		100.00%mms_SegmentRevenueAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember
Gross profit:        
Gross profit 91,887us-gaap_GrossProfit
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember 		84,868us-gaap_GrossProfit
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember 		177,302us-gaap_GrossProfit
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember 		161,374us-gaap_GrossProfit
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember
Gross profit (as a percent) 24.80%mms_SegmentGrossProfitAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember 		26.20%mms_SegmentGrossProfitAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember 		24.60%mms_SegmentGrossProfitAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember 		25.90%mms_SegmentGrossProfitAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember
Selling, general, and administrative expense:        
Selling, general and administrative expense 40,774us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember 		35,133us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember 		75,031us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember 		69,308us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember
Selling, general, and administrative expense (as a percent) 11.00%mms_SegmentSellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpenseAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember 		10.90%mms_SegmentSellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpenseAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember 		10.40%mms_SegmentSellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpenseAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember 		11.10%mms_SegmentSellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpenseAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember
Operating income:        
Operating income 51,113us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember 		49,735us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember 		102,271us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember 		92,066us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember
Operating income (as a percent) 13.80%mms_SegmentOperatingIncomeLossAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember 		15.40%mms_SegmentOperatingIncomeLossAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember 		14.20%mms_SegmentOperatingIncomeLossAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember 		14.80%mms_SegmentOperatingIncomeLossAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HealthServicesMember
Human Services | Operating segments        
Revenue:        
Revenue 111,411us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember 		115,417us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember 		227,155us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember 		223,425us-gaap_Revenues
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember
Revenue (as a percent) 100.00%mms_SegmentRevenueAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember 		100.00%mms_SegmentRevenueAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember 		100.00%mms_SegmentRevenueAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember 		100.00%mms_SegmentRevenueAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember
Gross profit:        
Gross profit 32,458us-gaap_GrossProfit
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember 		35,804us-gaap_GrossProfit
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember 		66,310us-gaap_GrossProfit
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember 		65,214us-gaap_GrossProfit
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember
Gross profit (as a percent) 29.10%mms_SegmentGrossProfitAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember 		31.00%mms_SegmentGrossProfitAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember 		29.20%mms_SegmentGrossProfitAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember 		29.20%mms_SegmentGrossProfitAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember
Selling, general, and administrative expense:        
Selling, general and administrative expense 18,523us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember 		18,528us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember 		36,222us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember 		35,602us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember
Selling, general, and administrative expense (as a percent) 16.60%mms_SegmentSellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpenseAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember 		16.10%mms_SegmentSellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpenseAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember 		15.90%mms_SegmentSellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpenseAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember 		15.90%mms_SegmentSellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpenseAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember
Operating income:        
Operating income $ 13,935us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember 		$ 17,276us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember 		$ 30,088us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember 		$ 29,612us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember
Operating income (as a percent) 12.50%mms_SegmentOperatingIncomeLossAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember 		15.00%mms_SegmentOperatingIncomeLossAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember 		13.20%mms_SegmentOperatingIncomeLossAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember 		13.30%mms_SegmentOperatingIncomeLossAsPercentOfSegmentRevenue
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mms_HumanServicesMember
[1] Acquisition-related expenses are costs directly incurred from the purchases of Acentia and Remploy.
[2] Legal and settlement expenses consist of costs related to significant legal settlements and non-routine legal matters, including future probable legal costs expected to be incurred in connection with those matters. Legal expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business are included in their respective operating segments.