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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Jun. 30, 2016 | Mar. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Sep. 30, 2015 | Jun. 30, 2015 | Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investments carrying value | $ 443 |  |  |  | $ 473 |  |  |  | $ 443 | $ 473 |
Share of equity earnings from investments in affiliates |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 39 | $ 23 | $ 26
Percentage of total revenues generated by medicaid and medicare programs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 17.00% | 17.00% | 17.00%
Purchase price discount ESPP | 15.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 15.00% |  |
Percentage of accounts receivable due from government payers | 15.00% |  |  |  | 16.00% |  |  |  | 15.00% | 16.00% |
Percentage of receivables due from patients | 17.00% |  |  |  | 17.00% |  |  |  | 17.00% | 17.00% |
Net income | $ 167 | $ 205 | $ 209 | $ 115 | $ 200 | $ 354 | $ 129 | $ 70 | $ 696 | $ 753 | $ 592
Available-for-sale equity securities | 3 |  |  |  | 6 |  |  |  | 3 | 6 |
Trading equity securities | 51 |  |  |  | 49 |  |  |  | 51 | 49 |
Other investments | 6 |  |  |  | 8 |  |  |  | 6 | 8 |
Total | 60 |  |  |  | $ 63 |  |  |  | 60 | 63 |
Gross unrealized gains from available-for-sale equity securities | $ 5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 |  |
Trading equity securities gain or (loss) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 | 0 | 3
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,069 | 821 | 944
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (691) | (518) | 86
Operating income (loss) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,277 | 1,399 | 983
Service Life [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 23 |  |
Earnings per share, basic and diluted |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0.16 |  |
Operating income (loss) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 37 |  |
New Accounting Pronouncement, Early Adoption, Effect [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2016-09, Excess Tax Benefit Component [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Effect of adoption, quantification |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 9 |  |
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 | 0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 | 0
New Accounting Pronouncement, Early Adoption, Effect [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2016-09, Taxes Paid Related to Employee Payroll [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7 | 6
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 7 | $ 6
Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investment, ownership percentage | 20.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 20.00% |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 years |  |
Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investment, ownership percentage | 49.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 49.00% |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 20 years |  |
Building and Building Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 31 years 6 months |  |
Laboratory Equipment and Furniture and Fixtures [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 years |  |
Laboratory Equipment and Furniture and Fixtures [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12 years |  |
Internal Use Software [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 years |  |
Laboratory Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7 years | 5 years |
Laboratory Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10 years | 7 years |
Furniture and Fixtures [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 years | 3 years |
Furniture and Fixtures [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12 years | 7 years |
Software and Software Development Costs [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 years | 3 years |

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