1.0.0.3 false Statement Of Cash Flows Indirect (USD $) In Millions false 1 $ false false Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares 0 USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDperShareItemType Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares 0 false 2 $ false false Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares 0 USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDperShareItemType Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares 0 5 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: 3 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 6 Net earnings/(loss) 4 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 true true -38200000 -38.2 false false 2 true true 249100000 249.1 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 7 Earnings from discontinued operations 4 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -23600000 -23.6 false false 2 false true -76900000 -76.9 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 8 Earnings/(loss) from continuing operations 4 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperations us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -61800000 -61.8 false false 2 false true 172200000 172.2 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 9 Adjustments to reconcile earnings from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities: 4 us-gaap_AdjustmentsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 10 Depreciation and amortization 5 us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 66300000 66.3 false false 2 false true 47400000 47.4 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 11 Loss on extinguishment of debt 5 us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 39900000 39.9 false false 2 false true 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 12 Impairments and loss on sale of assets 5 cah_AssetImpairmentAndGainLossOnSaleOfAssetsNet cah false debit duration monetary The charge against earnings resulting from the disposal of assets as well as the aggregate write down of all assets from... false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 23600000 23.6 false false 2 false true 3600000 3.6 false false The charge against earnings resulting from the disposal of assets as well as the aggregate write down of all assets from their carrying value to their fair value. No authoritative reference available. false 13 Equity compensation 5 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 22000000 22.0 false false 2 false true 21000000 21.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 14 Provision for bad debts 5 us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 12300000 12.3 false false 2 false true 12400000 12.4 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 15 Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions: 4 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOperatingCapitalAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 16 Increase in trade receivables 5 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInReceivables us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -716100000 -716.1 false false 2 false true -858200000 -858.2 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 17 Increase in inventories 5 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -28100000 -28.1 false false 2 false true -864100000 -864.1 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 18 Increase in accounts payable 5 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1003100000 1003.1 false false 2 false true 978100000 978.1 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 19 Other accrued liabilities and operating items, net 5 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -99600000 -99.6 false false 2 false true -4400000 -4.4 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 20 Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities - continuing operations 4 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations us-gaap true na duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 261600000 261.6 false false 2 false true -492000000 -492.0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 21 Net cash provided by operating activities - discontinued operations 4 us-gaap_CashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesDiscontinuedOperations us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 144400000 144.4 false false 2 false true 336800000 336.8 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 22 Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities 4 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities us-gaap true na duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 406000000 406.0 false false 2 false true -155200000 -155.2 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 23 CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: 3 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 24 Acquisition of subsidiaries, net of divestitures and cash acquired 4 us-gaap_PaymentsForProceedsFromBusinessesAndInterestInAffiliates us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -32000000 -32.0 false false 2 false true -6200000 -6.2 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 25 Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 4 us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 4800000 4.8 false false 2 false true 700000 0.7 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 26 Additions to property and equipment 4 us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -37000000 -37.0 false false 2 false true -57400000 -57.4 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 27 Net cash used in investing activities - continuing operations 4 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -64200000 -64.2 false false 2 false true -62900000 -62.9 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 28 Net cash used in investing activities - discontinued operations 4 us-gaap_CashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesDiscontinuedOperations us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -9900000 -9.9 false false 2 false true -31800000 -31.8 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 29 Net cash used in investing activities 4 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -74100000 -74.1 false false 2 false true -94700000 -94.7 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 30 CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: 3 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 31 Net change in commercial paper and short-term borrowings 4 us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfShortTermDebt us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 0 0 false false 2 false true 1200000 1.2 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 32 Reduction of long-term obligations 4 us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -1134400000 -1134.4 false false 2 false true -150700000 -150.7 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 33 Proceeds from long-term obligations, net of issuance costs 4 us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 0 0 false false 2 false true 8100000 8.1 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 34 Proceeds from issuance of Common Shares 4 us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 18700000 18.7 false false 2 false true 17900000 17.9 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 35 Tax benefit/(expense) from stock options 4 us-gaap_ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -6200000 -6.2 false false 2 false true 3300000 3.3 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 36 Payment of premiums for debt extinguishment 4 cah_PaymentOfPremiumsForDebtExtinguishment cah false credit duration monetary The premium paid in connection with the early extinguishment of debt. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -66400000 -66.4 false false 2 false true 0 0 false false The premium paid in connection with the early extinguishment of debt. No authoritative reference available. false 37 Dividends on Common Shares 4 us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -64200000 -64.2 false false 2 false true -49700000 -49.7 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 38 Net cash used in financing activities - continuing operations 4 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -1252500000 -1252.5 false false 2 false true -169900000 -169.9 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 39 Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities - discontinued operations 4 us-gaap_CashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesDiscontinuedOperations us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1283800000 1283.8 false false 2 false true -1600000 -1.6 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 40 Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities 4 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 31300000 31.3 false false 2 false true -171500000 -171.5 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 41 NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN CASH AND EQUIVALENTS 3 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease us-gaap true na duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 363200000 363.2 false false 2 false true -421400000 -421.4 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 42 CASH AND EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD 3 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false true false false 1 false true 1221600000 1221.6 false false 2 false true 808800000 808.8 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 43 CASH AND EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD 3 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false true false 1 false true 1584800000 1584.8 false false 2 false true 387400000 387.4 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 45 Non-cash investing and financing transactions for: 4 us-gaap_CashFlowNoncashInvestingAndFinancingActivitiesDisclosureAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 46 Investment in CareFusion 5 us-gaap_TransferInvestments us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 860800000 860.8 false false 2 false true 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 47 Non-cash dividend in connection with Spin-Off (as hereinafter defined) 5 cah_DividendsDeclaredAndNotPaid cah false credit duration monetary The aggregate amount of dividends declared, but not paid, as of the financial reporting date. false false false false false false false false false 1 true true 3728400000 3728.4 false false 2 true true 0 0 false false The aggregate amount of dividends declared, but not paid, as of the financial reporting date. No authoritative reference available. false false 2 42 false HundredThousands UnKnown UnKnown false true