XML 149 R131.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.4.0.3

Segments of Business - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) segment | Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of operating segments | segment |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pretax charges |  |  |  |  | $ 3,545 | $ 2,968 | $ 2,439
Pre-tax gain |  |  |  |  | 103 | 0 | 0
Pre-tax charge | $ 229 |  |  |  | 229 |  |
Operating Segments |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pretax charges |  |  |  |  | 4,072 | $ 3,485 | $ 2,920
Corporate |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pre-tax charge | 17 |  |  |  | $ 17 |  |
Distribution Solutions | Operating Segments |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of total revenue (less than) (as a percent) |  |  |  |  | 2.00% | 2.00% | 2.00%
Pretax charges |  |  |  |  | $ 3,553 | $ 3,047 | $ 2,472
Net cash proceeds |  | $ 17 |  | $ 59 | 76 |  |
Pre-tax charge | 161 |  |  |  | 161 |  |
Distribution Solutions | Operating Segments | ZEE Medical Business |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pre-tax gain |  |  | $ 52 |  | 52 |  |
Distribution Solutions | Operating Segments | LIFO method of accounting |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pretax charges |  |  |  |  | 244 | 337 | 311
Technology Solutions | Operating Segments |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pretax charges |  |  |  |  | 519 | 438 | $ 448
Pre-tax charge | $ 51 |  |  |  | 51 |  |
Technology Solutions | Operating Segments | Nurse Triage |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pre-tax gain |  |  |  | $ 51 | $ 51 |  |
Technology Solutions | Operating Segments | International Technology, Workforce |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Non-cash pre-tax charge |  |  |  |  |  | $ 34 |

X
- Definition Non-cash Pretax Charge, Reclassification from Discontinued Operations to Continues Operations + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mck_NoncashPretaxChargeReclassificationfromDiscontinuedOperationstoContinuesOperations
Namespace Prefix: | mck_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Revenue Derived From Services, Percentage + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mck_RevenueDerivedFromServicesPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | mck_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Gain (loss) from sale or disposal of an organization or integrated set of activities (for example, but not limited to, a partnership or corporation) engaged in providing a product or service in a commercial, industrial, or professional environment. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of operating segments. An operating segment is a component of an enterprise: (a) that engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses (including revenues and expenses relating to transactions with other components of the same enterprise), (b) whose operating results are regularly reviewed by the enterprise's chief operating decision maker to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance, and (c) for which discrete financial information is available. An operating segment may engage in business activities for which it has yet to earn revenues, for example, start-up operations may be operating segments before earning revenues. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Cash received for the settlement of litigation during the current period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 25 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3536-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ProceedsFromLegalSettlements
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of expenses associated with exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Excludes expenses related to a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140864-122747 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140904-122747 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 5 -Section P -Subsection 3, 4 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_SegmentReportingAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=mck_DistributionSolutionsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=mck_ZEEMedicalBusinessMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesInventoryAxis=mck_LIFOmethodofaccountingMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=mck_TechnologySolutionsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=mck_NurseTriageMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=mck_InternationalTechnologyWorkforceMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |