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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) - USD ($) | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2019 | Sep. 30, 2019 | Jun. 30, 2019 | Mar. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Sep. 30, 2018 | Jun. 30, 2018 | Mar. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Jan. 01, 2019
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investments carrying value | $ 482,000,000 |  |  |  | $ 436,000,000 |  |  |  | $ 482,000,000 | $ 436,000,000 |  |
Percentage of net revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Share of equity earnings from investments in affiliates |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 57,000,000 | $ 44,000,000 | $ 35,000,000 |
Percentage of net accounts receivable | 100.00% |  |  |  | 100.00% |  |  |  | 100.00% | 100.00% |  |
Percentage of receivables due from patients | 20.00% |  |  |  | 20.00% |  |  |  | 20.00% | 20.00% |  |
Operating income (loss) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,231,000,000 | $ 1,101,000,000 | 1,165,000,000 |
Net income | $ 265,000,000 | $ 226,000,000 | $ 239,000,000 | $ 176,000,000 | $ 139,000,000 | $ 227,000,000 | $ 233,000,000 | $ 189,000,000 | 906,000,000 | 788,000,000 | 824,000,000 |
Trading equity securities gain or (loss) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10,000,000 | (2,000,000) | 8,000,000 |
Impairment charges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | $ 0 |
Equity securities, FV-NI and without readily determinable fair value | 25,000,000 |  |  |  | 10,000,000 |  |  |  | 25,000,000 | 10,000,000 |  |
Available-for-sale debt securities | 12,000,000 |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  | 12,000,000 | 0 |  |
Operating lease right-of-use assets | 518,000,000 |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  | 518,000,000 | 0 |  | $ 500,000,000
Operating lease, liability | 558,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 558,000,000 |  |  | 550,000,000
Accrued rent |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 50,000,000
Other Assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Trading securities, equity | $ 59,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 59,000,000 |  |  |
Trading securities, equity |  |  |  |  | $ 53,000,000 |  |  |  |  | $ 53,000,000 |  |
DIS business |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of net revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 96.00% | 96.00% | 96.00% |
Percentage of net accounts receivable | 95.00% |  |  |  | 96.00% |  |  |  | 95.00% | 96.00% |  |
Operating income (loss) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,298,000,000 | $ 1,235,000,000 | $ 1,313,000,000 |
DIS business | Government payers |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of net revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 15.00% | 16.00% | 17.00% |
Percentage of net accounts receivable | 11.00% |  |  |  | 13.00% |  |  |  | 11.00% | 13.00% |  |
Minimum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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 | Laboratory Equipment and Furniture and Fixtures |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 years |  |  |
Minimum | Software and Software Development Costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 years |  |  |
Minimum | DIS business |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of net revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 95.00% | 95.00% | 95.00% |
Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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 | Building and Building Improvements |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 31 years 6 months |  |  |
Maximum | Laboratory Equipment and Furniture and Fixtures |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12 years |  |  |
Maximum | Software and Software Development Costs |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property, plant and equipment, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10 years |  |  |

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