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Quarterly Operating Results (unaudited) (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2015 | Sep. 30, 2015 | Jun. 30, 2015 | Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Jun. 30, 2014 | Mar. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and integration charges | $ 22 | $ 29 | $ 23 | $ 31 | $ 30 | $ 40 | $ 27 | $ 24 |  |  |
Impairment charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 16 |  |
Deferred income tax expense (benefit) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 112 | $ 23 | $ 19
Income tax (benefit) expense |  |  |  |  | (44) |  |  |  | 373 | $ 262 | $ 500
Subsidiaries [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Deferred income tax expense (benefit) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ (58) |  |
Clinical Laboratory Testing Business [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain on contribution of business |  | 334 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summit Health, Inc. [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business acquisition, decrease of contingent consideration |  |  | 13 |  | 9 |  |  |  |  |  |
Retirement of Debt [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Losses on extinguishment of debt |  |  | 65 | 79 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cost of Services [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and integration charges | 12 | 20 | 11 | 20 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 12 |  |  |
Selling, general and administrative [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and integration charges | 10 | $ 9 | 12 | 11 | 16 | 25 | 16 | 12 |  |  |
Selling, general and administrative [Member] | Legal Matters [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Legal costs | 10 |  | 5 | 2 | 5 | 8 | $ 7 | $ 4 |  |  |
Other Operating (Income) Expense [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and integration charges |  |  |  |  | $ 1 | $ 1 |  |  |  |  |
Impairment charges | $ 11 |  | $ 5 | $ 8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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