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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017 | Sep. 30, 2017 | Jun. 30, 2017 | Mar. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Jun. 30, 2016 | Mar. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investments carrying value | $ 462 |  |  |  | $ 443 |  |  |  | $ 462 | $ 443 |
Share of equity earnings from investments in affiliates |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 35 | $ 39 | $ 23
Percentage of total revenues generated by medicaid and medicare programs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16.00% | 17.00% | 17.00%
Purchase price discount ESPP | 15.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 15.00% |  |
Percentage of accounts receivable due from government payers | 14.00% |  |  |  | 15.00% |  |  |  | 14.00% | 15.00% |
Percentage of receivables due from patients | 20.00% |  |  |  | 17.00% |  |  |  | 20.00% | 17.00% |
Operating income (loss) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,165 | $ 1,277 | $ 1,399
Net income | $ 267 | $ 175 | $ 207 | $ 175 | $ 167 | $ 205 | $ 209 | $ 115 | 824 | 696 | 753
Trading equity securities gain or (loss) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8 | 3 | $ 0
Gross unrealized gains from available-for-sale equity securities | 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |
Available-for-sale equity securities | 2 |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |  | 2 | 3 |
Trading equity securities | 58 |  |  |  | 51 |  |  |  | 58 | 51 |
Other investments | 9 |  |  |  | 6 |  |  |  | 9 | 6 |
Total | $ 69 |  |  |  | $ 60 |  |  |  | 69 | 60 |
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other than temporary impairment losses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 6 |  |
Service Life [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating income (loss) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 37 |
Net income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 23 |
Earnings per share, basic and diluted |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0.16 |
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 |  |
Software and Software Development Costs [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 years | 5 years | 3 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

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