SEGMENT INFORMATION - Operating Income to Income from Continuing Operations Reconciliation (Details) - USD ($)			12 Months Ended
	Nov. 01, 2023	Feb. 18, 2022	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Total			$ 390,000,000	$ (2,243,000,000)	$ 1,350,000,000
Intangible asset amortization expense			652,000,000	753,000,000	298,000,000
Long-lived asset impairments			77,000,000	344,000,000	0
Legal matters		$ 18,000,000
Goodwill impairments	$ 0		0	2,812,000,000	0
Loss on subsidiary liquidation			0	(21,000,000)	0
Interest expense, net			442,000,000	395,000,000	193,000,000
Other (income) expense, net			51,000,000	12,000,000	41,000,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes			(103,000,000)	(2,650,000,000)	1,116,000,000
Total depreciation expense			$ 611,000,000	$ 627,000,000	$ 569,000,000
Restructuring, Incurred Cost, Statement of Income or Comprehensive Income [Extensible Enumeration]			Total	Total	Total
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Total			$ 2,174,000,000	$ 2,332,000,000	$ 2,085,000,000
Goodwill impairments				2,812,000,000
Operating Segments | Medical Products and Therapies
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Total			972,000,000	962,000,000	955,000,000
Goodwill impairments				0
Total depreciation expense			202,000,000	204,000,000	213,000,000
Operating Segments | Healthcare Systems and Technologies
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Total			483,000,000	494,000,000	60,000,000
Goodwill impairments				2,812,000,000
Total depreciation expense			91,000,000	95,000,000	3,000,000
Operating Segments | Pharmaceuticals
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Total			401,000,000	391,000,000	523,000,000
Goodwill impairments				0
Total depreciation expense			41,000,000	57,000,000	71,000,000
Operating Segments | Kidney Care
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Total			300,000,000	408,000,000	488,000,000
Goodwill impairments				0
Total depreciation expense			277,000,000	271,000,000	282,000,000
Operating Segments | Other
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Total			18,000,000	77,000,000	59,000,000
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Unallocated corporate costs			(51,000,000)	(54,000,000)	(49,000,000)
Intangible asset amortization expense			(652,000,000)	(753,000,000)	(298,000,000)
Business optimization items			(534,000,000)	(225,000,000)	(114,000,000)
European Medical Devices Regulation			(48,000,000)	(48,000,000)	(42,000,000)
Long-lived asset impairments			(267,000,000)	(344,000,000)	0
Separation-related costs			(225,000,000)	(7,000,000)	0
Legal matters			(7,000,000)	0	(13,000,000)
Acquisition and integration items			0	(213,000,000)	(188,000,000)
Product-related items			0	(44,000,000)	0
Loss on product divestiture arrangement			0	(54,000,000)	0
Goodwill impairments			0	(2,812,000,000)	0
Loss on subsidiary liquidation			0	(21,000,000)	0
Investigation and related costs			$ 0	$ 0	$ (31,000,000)