Interim Statement Presentation (Notes)	3 Months Ended
Apr. 02, 2016
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Interim Statement Presentation	Interim Statement Presentation Basis of Presentation The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by Cerner Corporation (Cerner, the Company, we, us or our) without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in our latest annual report on Form 10-K. In management’s opinion, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. Our interim results as presented in this Form 10-Q are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the entire year. The condensed consolidated financial statements were prepared using GAAP. These principles require us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Fiscal Period End Our 2016 and 2015 first quarters ended on April 2, 2016 and April 4, 2015, respectively. All references to years in these notes to condensed consolidated financial statements represent the respective three months ended on such dates, unless otherwise noted. Factors Impacting Comparability of Interim Financial Statements Siemens Health Services. On February 2, 2015, we acquired Siemens Health Services, as further described in Note (2). The addition of the Siemens Health Services business impacts the comparability of our condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended April 2, 2016, in relation to the three months ended April 4, 2015, presented herein. Amortization of Acquisition-related Intangibles. Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles includes the amortization of customer relationships, acquired technology, trade names, and non-compete agreements recorded in connection with our business acquisitions. Historically, such amounts were included in general and administrative expense in our condensed consolidated statements of operations. Effective for our second quarter of 2015, amortization of acquisition-related intangibles is presented on a separate line within our condensed consolidated statements of operations. While this reporting change did not impact our consolidated results, prior period reclassifications have been made to conform to the current period presentation. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Revenue Recognition. In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. ASU 2014-09 will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in GAAP. The new standard is effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2018, with early adoption permitted in the first quarter of 2017. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. At this time, we have not selected a transition method, nor have we determined if we will adopt early. We are currently evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-09, and its subsequent amendments discussed below, will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net). ASU 2016-08 amends the principal versus agent guidance in ASU 2014-09, and clarifies that the analysis must focus on whether the entity has control of the goods or services before they are transferred to the customer. In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing. ASU 2016-10 amends the revenue guidance in ASU 2014-09 on identifying performance obligations and accounting for licenses of intellectual property. Consolidation. In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis, which provides guidance when evaluating whether to consolidate certain legal entities. The updated guidance modifies evaluation criteria of limited partnerships and similar legal entities, eliminates the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership, and affects the consolidation analysis of reporting entities that are involved with variable interest entities, particularly those that have fee arrangements and related party relationships. ASU 2015-02 was effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2016. The adoption of ASU 2015-02 did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Financial Instruments. In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, which addresses certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. ASU 2016-01 is effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2018, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the effect that ASU 2016-01 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Leases. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which introduces a new model that requires most leases to be reported on the balance sheet and aligns many of the underlying principles of the new lessor model with those in the new revenue recognition standard. ASU 2016-02 is effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2019, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the effect that ASU 2016-02 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures, and we have not determined if we will early adopt. Share-Based Compensation. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. ASU 2016-09 changes several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment award transactions, including: (1) accounting and cash flow classification for excess tax benefits and deficiencies, (2) forfeitures, and (3) tax withholding requirements and cash flow classification. ASU 2016-09 is effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2017, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the effect that ASU 2019-09 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures, and we have not determined if we will early adopt.

Interim Statement Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by Cerner Corporation (Cerner, the Company, we, us or our) without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in our latest annual report on Form 10-K.

In management’s opinion, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. Our interim results as presented in this Form 10-Q are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the entire year.

The condensed consolidated financial statements were prepared using GAAP. These principles require us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Fiscal Period End

Our 2016 and 2015 first quarters ended on April 2, 2016 and April 4, 2015, respectively. All references to years in these notes to condensed consolidated financial statements represent the respective three months ended on such dates, unless otherwise noted.

Factors Impacting Comparability of Interim Financial Statements

Siemens Health Services. On February 2, 2015, we acquired Siemens Health Services, as further described in Note (2). The addition of the Siemens Health Services business impacts the comparability of our condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended April 2, 2016, in relation to the three months ended April 4, 2015, presented herein.

Amortization of Acquisition-related Intangibles. Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles includes the amortization of customer relationships, acquired technology, trade names, and non-compete agreements recorded in connection with our business acquisitions. Historically, such amounts were included in general and administrative expense in our condensed consolidated statements of operations. Effective for our second quarter of 2015, amortization of acquisition-related intangibles is presented on a separate line within our condensed consolidated statements of operations. While this reporting change did not impact our consolidated results, prior period reclassifications have been made to conform to the current period presentation.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Revenue Recognition. In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. ASU 2014-09 will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in GAAP. The new standard is effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2018, with early adoption permitted in the first quarter of 2017. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. At this time, we have not selected a transition method, nor have we determined if we will adopt early. We are currently evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-09, and its subsequent amendments discussed below, will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net). ASU 2016-08 amends the principal versus agent guidance in ASU 2014-09, and clarifies that the analysis must focus on whether the entity has control of the goods or services before they are transferred to the customer.

In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing. ASU 2016-10 amends the revenue guidance in ASU 2014-09 on identifying performance obligations and accounting for licenses of intellectual property.

Consolidation. In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis, which provides guidance when evaluating whether to consolidate certain legal entities. The updated guidance modifies evaluation criteria of limited partnerships and similar legal entities, eliminates the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership, and affects the consolidation analysis of reporting entities that are involved with variable interest entities, particularly those that have fee arrangements and related party relationships. ASU 2015-02 was effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2016. The adoption of ASU 2015-02 did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Financial Instruments. In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, which addresses certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. ASU 2016-01 is effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2018, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the effect that ASU 2016-01 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Leases. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which introduces a new model that requires most leases to be reported on the balance sheet and aligns many of the underlying principles of the new lessor model with those in the new revenue recognition standard. ASU 2016-02 is effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2019, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the effect that ASU 2016-02 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures, and we have not determined if we will early adopt.

Share-Based Compensation. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. ASU 2016-09 changes several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment award transactions, including: (1) accounting and cash flow classification for excess tax benefits and deficiencies, (2) forfeitures, and (3) tax withholding requirements and cash flow classification. ASU 2016-09 is effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2017, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the effect that ASU 2019-09 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures, and we have not determined if we will early adopt.