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Quarterly Operating Results (unaudited) (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions |  | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Aug. 01, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Sep. 30, 2020 | Jun. 30, 2020 | Mar. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Sep. 30, 2019 | Jun. 30, 2019 | Mar. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amortization of intangible assets |  | $ 26 | $ 27 | $ 25 | $ 25 | $ 24 | $ 23 | $ 25 | $ 24 | $ 103 | $ 96 | $ 90
Restructuring and integration charges |  | 15 | 18 | 9 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 26 | 22 |  |  |
Pre-tax charges due to COVID-19 |  | 20 | 69 |  | 9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based compensation, excess tax benefit, amount |  | 8 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | $ 23 | 13 | $ 18
Pre-tax gain (loss) due to COVID-19 |  |  |  | (26) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income recognized due to receipt of initial tranche of funds from the CARES Act |  |  |  | 65 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Reversal of income recognized due to receipt of initial tranche of funds from the CARES Act |  |  | 65 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain recognized by an equity method investee to adjust certain of its investments to fair value, partially offset by a loss on retirement of debt |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain associated with an insurance claim for hurricane |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8 |  |  |
Cost incurred do to incident |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |  |  |
Gain from sale and leaseback of property |  |  |  |  |  | 72 |  |  |  |  |  |
NID |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain on settling uncertain tax benefits |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 20 |  |  | (20) |
Mid America Clinical Laboratories, LLC (MACL) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity interest in acquiree, remeasurement gain |  |  | $ 70 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of voting interests acquired | 56.00% |  | 56.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cost of Sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and integration charges |  |  | $ 11 |  |  | 6 | 7 | 11 | 11 |  |  |
Pre-tax charges due to COVID-19 |  | 19 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and integration charges |  |  | 7 |  |  | 8 | 9 | 15 | 11 |  |  |
Pre-tax charges due to COVID-19 |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Operating Income (Expense) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pre-tax charges due to COVID-19 |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cost of Sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and integration charges |  | 6 |  | 3 | 7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pre-tax charges due to COVID-19 |  |  | 3 |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pre-tax gain (loss) due to COVID-19 |  |  |  | (34) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and integration charges |  | 9 |  | 6 | 9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pre-tax charges due to COVID-19 |  |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pre-tax gain (loss) due to COVID-19 |  |  |  | (5) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain recognized by an equity method investee to adjust certain of its investments to fair value, partially offset by a loss on retirement of debt |  | (2) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain associated with an insurance claim for hurricane |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1) |  |  |
Cost incurred do to incident |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4 |  |  |  |  |
Gain from sale and leaseback of property |  |  |  |  |  | (1) |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Operating Income (Expense) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pre-tax charges due to COVID-19 |  |  | 65 |  | 5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pre-tax gain (loss) due to COVID-19 |  |  |  | 62 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain associated with an insurance claim for hurricane |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9 |  |  |
Contingent consideration arrangements |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6 |  |  |  |
Cost incurred do to incident |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7 |  |  |  |  |
Gain from sale and leaseback of property |  |  |  |  |  | 73 |  |  |  |  | $ (73) |
Other Income (Expense) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain recognized by an equity method investee to adjust certain of its investments to fair value, partially offset by a loss on retirement of debt |  | (10) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Income (Expense) | Mid America Clinical Laboratories, LLC (MACL) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity interest in acquiree, remeasurement gain | $ 70 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Intangible Assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amortization of intangible assets |  | 28 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 30 | 29 |  |  |
Equity in Earnings of Equity Method Investees |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amortization of intangible assets |  | 2 | 3 | 3 | $ 3 | $ 3 | $ 2 | $ 5 | $ 5 |  |  |
Pre-tax charges due to COVID-19 |  | (2) | $ 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pre-tax gain (loss) due to COVID-19 |  |  |  | $ 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain recognized by an equity method investee to adjust certain of its investments to fair value, partially offset by a loss on retirement of debt |  | $ 14 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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