By Alabama Public Radio
Birmingham, AL – HealthSouth is casting off a division that once formed the most visible part of its business and helped make it the nation's largest rehabilitation chain. Chief executive Jay Grinney said HealthSouth is selling its outpatient rehabilitation division to reduce its long-term debt. Select Medical operates 97 specialty hospital and about 605 outpatient rehabilitation clinics. Birmingham-based HealthSouth is still recovering from a two-point-seven billion dollar accounting scandal. HealthSouth shares rose 30 cents, or 1-point-4 percent, to 22 dollars in morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange.