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Quarterly Operating Results (unaudited) (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions |  | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
May 13, 2016 | 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
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and integration charges |  | $ 24 | $ 18 | $ 19 | $ 21 | $ 22 | $ 34 | $ 23 | $ 31 |  |  |
Pre-tax gain (loss) recognized |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 118 | $ 334 | $ 0
Gain on escrow recovery |  |  | 21 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Deferred income tax expense (benefit) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 37 | 112 | 23
Income tax (benefit) expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 429 | 373 | $ 262
Subsidiaries [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Deferred income tax expense (benefit) |  |  |  |  |  | (58) |  |  |  |  | $ (58) |
Clinical Trials [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pre-tax gain (loss) recognized |  |  |  |  |  |  | 334 |  |  |  |  |
Summit Health, Inc. [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business acquisition, decrease of contingent consideration |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 13 |  |  |  |
Focus Diagnostics Products [Member] | Disposal Group, Held-for-sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pre-tax gain (loss) recognized |  |  |  | 118 |  |  |  |  |  | 118 |  |
Deferred income tax expense (benefit) | $ (7) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (7) |  |
Income tax (benefit) expense | $ 84 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 84 |  |
Retirement of Debt [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Losses on extinguishment of debt |  |  |  |  | 48 |  |  | 65 | 79 |  |  |
Cost of Services [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and integration charges |  | 15 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 12 | 20 | 11 | 20 |  |  |
Selling, general and administrative [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and integration charges |  | 7 | $ 10 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 11 |  |  |
Selling, general and administrative [Member] | Legal Matters [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Legal costs |  |  |  | 1 | 2 | 10 |  | 5 | 2 |  |  |
Other Operating (Income) Expense [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and integration charges |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment charges |  | 6 |  |  | 1 | $ 11 |  | $ 5 | $ 8 |  |  |
Non-cash Asset Impairment Charges [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Non-cash asset impairment charges |  |  |  | 6 | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity in Earnings of Equity Method Investees [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and integration charges |  | $ 1 |  | $ 1 | $ 2 |  | $ 5 |  |  |  |  |

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