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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2018 | Sep. 30, 2018 | Jun. 30, 2018 | Mar. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Sep. 30, 2017 | Jun. 30, 2017 | Mar. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Jan. 01, 2019
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investments carrying value | $ 436 |  |  |  | $ 462 |  |  |  | $ 436 | $ 462 |  |
Percentage of net revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Share of equity earnings from investments in affiliates |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 44 | $ 35 | $ 39 |
Purchase price discount ESPP | 15.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 15.00% |  |  |
Percentage of accounts receivable due from government payers | 13.00% |  |  |  | 14.00% |  |  |  | 13.00% | 14.00% |  |
Percentage of receivables due from patients | 20.00% |  |  |  | 20.00% |  |  |  | 20.00% | 20.00% |  |
Operating income (loss) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,101 | $ 1,165 | 1,277 |
Net income | $ 139 | $ 227 | $ 233 | $ 189 | $ 267 | $ 175 | $ 207 | $ 175 | 788 | 824 | 696 |
Trading equity securities gain or (loss) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (2) | 8 | 3 |
Payment of debt extinguishment costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 43 |
Repayment of original issue debt discount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 4 |
Scenario, Forecast [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating lease, right-of-use asset |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 500
Operating lease, liability |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 500
Focus Diagnostics Products [Member] | Disposal Group, Held-for-sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Decrease in restricted cash |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 25 |  |
Other Assets [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Trading securities, equity | 53 |  |  |  | 58 |  |  |  | 53 | 58 |  |
Equity securities, FV-NI and without readily determinable fair value | $ 10 |  |  |  | $ 9 |  |  |  | $ 10 | $ 9 |  |
DIS business [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of net revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 96.00% | 96.00% | 95.00% |
Operating income (loss) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,235 | $ 1,313 | $ 1,244 |
DIS business [Member] | Government Payers [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of net revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16.00% | 17.00% | 17.00% |
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 |  |  |
Minimum [Member] | Laboratory Equipment and Furniture and Fixtures [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 years |  |  |
Minimum [Member] | Software and Software Development Costs [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, 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 |  |  |
Maximum [Member] | Building and Building Improvements [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 31 years 6 months |  |  |
Maximum [Member] | Laboratory Equipment and Furniture and Fixtures [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12 years |  |  |
Maximum [Member] | Software and Software Development Costs [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10 years |  |  |

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