SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	$ 11,362	$ 11,099	$ 10,584
Renal Care
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	3,639	3,651	3,491
Medication Delivery
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	2,799	2,664	2,700
Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	2,155	2,087	1,886
Clinical Nutrition
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	872	875	885
Advanced Surgery
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	877	798	708
Acute Therapies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	535	515	457
Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	485	509	457
U.S. and Puerto Rico plans
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	4,826	4,723	4,510
U.S. and Puerto Rico plans | Renal Care
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	791	816	754
U.S. and Puerto Rico plans | Medication Delivery
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	1,822	1,690	1,698
U.S. and Puerto Rico plans | Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	940	996	892
U.S. and Puerto Rico plans | Clinical Nutrition
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	320	321	359
U.S. and Puerto Rico plans | Advanced Surgery
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	535	466	403
U.S. and Puerto Rico plans | Acute Therapies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	184	174	147
U.S. and Puerto Rico plans | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	234	260	257
International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	6,536	6,376	6,074
International | Renal Care
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	2,848	2,835	2,737
International | Medication Delivery
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	977	974	1,002
International | Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	1,215	1,091	994
International | Clinical Nutrition
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	552	554	526
International | Advanced Surgery
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	342	332	305
International | Acute Therapies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	351	341	310
International | Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer	$ 251	$ 249	$ 200