Earnings (Loss) Per Share Data (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2014

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Weighted Average Stock Price to include additional shares in diluted share calculation [Table Text Block]

The Company is required to include additional shares in its diluted shares outstanding calculation based on the treasury stock method when the average market price of a share of Omnicare stock on the New York Stock Exchange for the applicable period exceeds the following amounts:

Convertible Debt	Price
3.75% convertible senior subordinated notes, due 2025	$	26.84
4.00% junior subordinated convertible debentures, due 2033	$	40.82
3.25% convertible senior debentures, due 2035	$	77.88
3.75% convertible senior subordinated notes, due 2042	$	41.05
3.50% convertible senior subordinated notes, due 2044	$	70.00

Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]

The following is a reconciliation of the basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) computations for both the numerator and denominator (in thousands, except per share data):

	Three months ended March 31,
2014:	Income (Numerator)		Common Shares(Denominator)	Per Common Share Amounts
Basic EPS
Income from continuing operations	$	63,638		$	0.65
Income from discontinued operations	136			—
Net income	$	63,774	98,566	$	0.65
Effect of Dilutive Securities
Convertible securities	66		8,463
Stock options, units and awards	—		738
Diluted EPS
Income from continuing operations plus assumed conversions	$	63,704		$	0.59
Income from discontinued operations	136			—
Net income plus assumed conversions	$	63,840	107,767	$	0.59

	Three months ended March 31,
2013:	Income (Numerator)		Common Shares(Denominator)	Per Common Share Amounts
Basic EPS
Income from continuing operations	$	48,314		$	0.47
Income from discontinued operations	6,040			0.06
Net income	$	54,354	103,210	$	0.53
Effect of Dilutive Securities
Convertible securities	71		3,753
Stock options, warrants, units and awards	—		503
Diluted EPS
Income from continuing operations plus assumed conversions	$	48,385		$	0.45
Income from discontinued operations	6,040			0.06
Net income plus assumed conversions	$	54,425	107,466	$	0.51