Basis of Presentation, Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 28, 2019
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Use of Estimates	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.
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The consolidated financial statements include all the accounts of Cerner Corporation ("Cerner," the "Company," "we," "us" or "our") and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The consolidated financial statements were prepared using accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("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 Prior to fiscal year 2020, our fiscal year ended on the Saturday closest to December 31. Fiscal years 2019, 2018 and 2017 each consisted of 52 weeks and ended on December 28, 2019, December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017, respectively. All references to years in these notes to consolidated financial statements represent fiscal years unless otherwise noted. In December 2019, our Board of Directors approved a resolution to change our fiscal year to a calendar year, commencing with fiscal year 2020. Accordingly, our 2020 fiscal year will be extended and run from December 29, 2019 to December 31, 2020, with subsequent fiscal years beginning on January 1 and ending on December 31 of each year. Beginning December 29, 2019, the first day of our 2020 first quarter, our quarterly results will be for the periods ending March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31.
Fiscal Period	Prior to fiscal year 2020, our fiscal year ended on the Saturday closest to December 31. Fiscal years 2019, 2018 and 2017 each consisted of 52 weeks and ended on December 28, 2019, December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017, respectively. All references to years in these notes to consolidated financial statements represent fiscal years unless otherwise noted.
Nature of Operations	Nature of Operations We design, develop, market, install, host and support health care information technology, health care devices, hardware and content solutions for health care organizations and consumers. We also provide a wide range of value-added services, including implementation and training, remote hosting, operational management services, revenue cycle services, support and maintenance, health care data analysis, clinical process optimization, transaction processing, employer health centers, employee wellness programs and third party administrator services for employer-based health plans.
Cash Equivalents	Cash Equivalents - Cash equivalents consist of short-term debt securities with original maturities of less than 90 days.
Investments	Investments in Debt Securities – We account for our investments in debt securities as available-for-sale investments in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic ("ASC") 320, Investments-Debt Securities. Short-term available-for-sale investments are primarily invested in time deposits, commercial paper, government and corporate bonds, with maturities of less than one year. Long-term available-for-sale investments are primarily invested in government and corporate bonds with maturities of less than two years. Available-for-sale investments are recorded at fair value with the unrealized gains and losses reflected in accumulated other comprehensive loss until realized. Realized gains and losses from the sale of available-for-sale investments, if any, are determined on a specific identification basis. We regularly review investment securities for impairment based on both quantitative and qualitative criteria that include the extent to which cost exceeds fair value, the duration of any market decline, and the financial health of and specific prospects for the issuer. Unrealized losses that are other than temporary are recognized in earnings. Generally, premiums are amortized and discounts are accreted over the life of the security as adjustments to interest income for our investments. For investments in callable debt securities, any premiums are amortized to the earliest call date. Interest income is recognized when earned. Refer to Note (4) and Note (11) for further description of these assets and their fair value. (c) Investments in Equity Securities - We account for our investments in equity securities that give us the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of an investee under the equity method in accordance with ASC 323, Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures. Under the equity method, we recognize our share of the earnings or losses of an investee, generally on a three-month lag. Such share of the investee's earnings or losses are presented in other income, net in our consolidated statements of operations. We account for our investments in equity securities that do not qualify for equity method accounting in accordance with ASC 321, Investments-Equity Securities ("ASC 321"). We measure these investments at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in other income, net in our consolidated statements of operations for such investments with readily determinable fair values. For these investments that do not have readily determinable fair values, we measure such investments at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or similar investment of the same issuer.
Concentrations	Concentrations - The majority of our cash and cash equivalents are held at three major financial institutions. The majority of our cash equivalents consist of money market funds. Deposits held with banks may exceed the amount of insurance provided on such deposits. Generally these deposits may be redeemed upon demand.
Inventory	Inventory - Inventory consists primarily of computer hardware and sublicensed software, held for resale. Inventory is recorded at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or net realizable value.
Property and Equipment	Property and Equipment - We account for property and equipment in accordance with ASC 360, Property, Plant, and Equipment. Property, equipment and leasehold improvements are stated at cost. Depreciation of property and equipment is computed using the straight-line method over periods of one to 50 years. Amortization of leasehold improvements is computed using a straight-line method over the shorter of the lease terms or the useful lives, which range from periods of one to 15 years.
Software Development Costs	Software Development Costs - Our software solutions are offered to our clients both through traditional licenses as well as software as a service delivery models. Development costs associated with the certain solutions offered exclusively through a software as a service model are accounted for in accordance with ASC 350-40, Internal-Use Software. All other client solution development costs, which represent a significant majority of development costs, are accounted for in accordance with ASC 985-20, Costs of Software to be Sold, Leased or Marketed. Under ASC 985-20, software development costs incurred in creating computer software solutions are expensed until technological feasibility has been established upon completion of a detailed program design. Thereafter, all software development costs incurred through the software's general release date are capitalized and subsequently recorded at the lower of amortized cost or net realizable value. Capitalized costs are amortized based on current and expected future revenue for each software solution with minimum annual amortization equal to the straight-line amortization over the estimated economic life of the solution. We amortize capitalized costs over five years. Under ASC 350-40, software development costs related to preliminary project activities and post-implementation and maintenance activities are expensed as incurred. We capitalize direct costs related to application development activities that are probable to result in additional functionality. Capitalized costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over five years. We test for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances that could impact recoverability occur. See Note (7) for further information relating to our software development costs.
Goodwill	Goodwill - We account for goodwill under the provisions of ASC 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other. Goodwill is not amortized but is evaluated for impairment annually or whenever there is an impairment indicator. All goodwill is assigned to a reporting unit, where it is subject to an annual impairment assessment. Based on these evaluations, there was no impairment of goodwill in 2019, 2018 or 2017. Refer to Note (9) for more information on goodwill and other intangible assets.
Intangible Assets	Intangible Assets - We account for intangible assets in accordance with ASC 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other. Amortization of finite-lived intangible assets is computed using the straight-line method over periods of three to 30 years.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes - Income taxes are accounted for in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Refer to Note (14) for additional information regarding income taxes.
Earnings per Common Share	Earnings per Common Share - Basic earnings per share ("EPS") excludes dilution and is computed, in accordance with ASC 260, Earnings Per Share, by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in our earnings. Refer to Note (15) for additional details of our earnings per share computations.
Accounting for Share-based Payments	Accounting for Share-based Payments - We recognize all share-based payments to associates, directors and consultants, including grants of stock options, restricted stock and performance shares, in the financial statements as compensation cost based on their fair value on the date of grant, in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation. This compensation cost is recognized over the vesting period on a straight-line basis for the fair value of awards that actually vest. Refer to Note (16) for a detailed discussion of share-based payments.
Postemployment Benefit Plans	Voluntary Separation Benefits - We account for voluntary separation benefits in accordance with the provisions of ASC 712, Compensation-Nonretirement Postemployment Benefits. Voluntary separation benefits are recorded to expense when the associates irrevocably accept the offer and the amount of the termination liability is reasonably estimable.
Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities or Restructurings	Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations - We account for involuntary employee separation benefits pursuant to one-time benefit arrangements and contract termination costs in accordance with ASC 420, Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations.
Foreign Currency	Foreign Currency - In accordance with ASC 830, Foreign Currency Matters, assets and liabilities of non-U.S. subsidiaries whose functional currency is the local currency are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates prevailing at the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates during the year. The net exchange differences resulting from these translations are reported in accumulated other comprehensive loss. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in the consolidated statements of operations.
Collaborative Arrangements	Collaborative Arrangements - In accordance with ASC 808, Collaborative Arrangements, third party costs incurred and revenues generated by arrangements involving joint operating activities of two or more parties that are each actively involved and exposed to risks and rewards of the activities are classified in the consolidated statements of operations on a gross basis only if we are determined to be the principal participant in the arrangement. Otherwise, third party revenues and costs generated by collaborative arrangements are presented on a net basis. Payments between participants are recorded and classified based on the nature of the payments.

Basis of Presentation, Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 28, 2019

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

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.

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include all the accounts of Cerner Corporation ("Cerner," the "Company," "we," "us" or "our") and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The consolidated financial statements were prepared using accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("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

Prior to fiscal year 2020, our fiscal year ended on the Saturday closest to December 31. Fiscal years 2019, 2018 and 2017 each consisted of 52 weeks and ended on December 28, 2019, December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017, respectively. All references to years in these notes to consolidated financial statements represent fiscal years unless otherwise noted.

In December 2019, our Board of Directors approved a resolution to change our fiscal year to a calendar year, commencing with fiscal year 2020. Accordingly, our 2020 fiscal year will be extended and run from December 29, 2019 to December 31, 2020, with subsequent fiscal years beginning on January 1 and ending on December 31 of each year. Beginning December 29, 2019, the first day of our 2020 first quarter, our quarterly results will be for the periods ending March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31.

Fiscal Period

Nature of Operations

We design, develop, market, install, host and support health care information technology, health care devices, hardware and content solutions for health care organizations and consumers. We also provide a wide range of value-added services, including implementation and training, remote hosting, operational management services, revenue cycle services, support and maintenance, health care data analysis, clinical process optimization, transaction processing, employer health centers, employee wellness programs and third party administrator services for employer-based health plans.

Cash Equivalents

Cash Equivalents - Cash equivalents consist of short-term debt securities with original maturities of less than 90 days.

Investments

Investments in Debt Securities – We account for our investments in debt securities as available-for-sale investments in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic ("ASC") 320, Investments-Debt Securities. Short-term available-for-sale investments are primarily invested in time deposits, commercial paper, government and corporate bonds, with maturities of less than one year. Long-term available-for-sale investments are primarily invested in government and corporate bonds with maturities of less than two years.

Available-for-sale investments are recorded at fair value with the unrealized gains and losses reflected in accumulated other comprehensive loss until realized. Realized gains and losses from the sale of available-for-sale investments, if any, are determined on a specific identification basis.

We regularly review investment securities for impairment based on both quantitative and qualitative criteria that include the extent to which cost exceeds fair value, the duration of any market decline, and the financial health of and specific prospects for the issuer. Unrealized losses that are other than temporary are recognized in earnings.

Generally, premiums are amortized and discounts are accreted over the life of the security as adjustments to interest income for our investments. For investments in callable debt securities, any premiums are amortized to the earliest call date. Interest income is recognized when earned.

Refer to Note (4) and Note (11) for further description of these assets and their fair value.

(c) Investments in Equity Securities - We account for our investments in equity securities that give us the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of an investee under the equity method in accordance with ASC 323, Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures. Under the equity method, we recognize our share of the earnings or losses of an investee, generally on a three-month lag. Such share of the investee's earnings or losses are presented in other income, net in our consolidated statements of operations.

We account for our investments in equity securities that do not qualify for equity method accounting in accordance with ASC 321, Investments-Equity Securities ("ASC 321"). We measure these investments at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in other income, net in our consolidated statements of operations for such investments with readily determinable fair values. For these investments that do not have readily determinable fair values, we measure such investments at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or similar investment of the same issuer.

Concentrations

Concentrations - The majority of our cash and cash equivalents are held at three major financial institutions. The majority of our cash equivalents consist of money market funds. Deposits held with banks may exceed the amount of insurance provided on such deposits. Generally these deposits may be redeemed upon demand.

Inventory

Inventory - Inventory consists primarily of computer hardware and sublicensed software, held for resale. Inventory is recorded at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or net realizable value.

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment - We account for property and equipment in accordance with ASC 360, Property, Plant, and Equipment. Property, equipment and leasehold improvements are stated at cost. Depreciation of property and equipment is computed using the straight-line method over periods of one to 50 years. Amortization of leasehold improvements is computed using a straight-line method over the shorter of the lease terms or the useful lives, which range from periods of one to 15 years.

Software Development Costs

Software Development Costs - Our software solutions are offered to our clients both through traditional licenses as well as software as a service delivery models. Development costs associated with the certain solutions offered exclusively through a software as a service model are accounted for in accordance with ASC 350-40, Internal-Use Software. All other client solution development costs, which represent a significant majority of development costs, are accounted for in accordance with ASC 985-20, Costs of Software to be Sold, Leased or Marketed.

Under ASC 985-20, software development costs incurred in creating computer software solutions are expensed until technological feasibility has been established upon completion of a detailed program design. Thereafter, all software development costs incurred through the software's general release date are capitalized and subsequently recorded at the lower of amortized cost or net realizable value. Capitalized costs are amortized based on current and expected future revenue for each software solution with minimum annual amortization equal to the straight-line amortization over the estimated economic life of the solution. We amortize capitalized costs over five years.

Under ASC 350-40, software development costs related to preliminary project activities and post-implementation and maintenance activities are expensed as incurred. We capitalize direct costs related to application development activities that are probable to result in additional functionality. Capitalized costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over five years. We test for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances that could impact recoverability occur.

See Note (7) for further information relating to our software development costs.

Goodwill

Goodwill - We account for goodwill under the provisions of ASC 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other. Goodwill is not amortized but is evaluated for impairment annually or whenever there is an impairment indicator. All goodwill is assigned to a reporting unit, where it is subject to an annual impairment assessment. Based on these evaluations, there was no impairment of goodwill in 2019, 2018 or 2017. Refer to Note (9) for more information on goodwill and other intangible assets.

Intangible Assets

Intangible Assets - We account for intangible assets in accordance with ASC 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other. Amortization of finite-lived intangible assets is computed using the straight-line method over periods of three to 30 years.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes - Income taxes are accounted for in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Refer to Note (14) for additional information regarding income taxes.

Earnings per Common Share

Earnings per Common Share - Basic earnings per share ("EPS") excludes dilution and is computed, in accordance with ASC 260, Earnings Per Share, by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in our earnings. Refer to Note (15) for additional details of our earnings per share computations.

Accounting for Share-based Payments

Accounting for Share-based Payments - We recognize all share-based payments to associates, directors and consultants, including grants of stock options, restricted stock and performance shares, in the financial statements as compensation cost based on their fair value on the date of grant, in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation. This compensation cost is recognized over the vesting period on a straight-line basis for the fair value of awards that actually vest. Refer to Note (16) for a detailed discussion of share-based payments.

Postemployment Benefit Plans

Voluntary Separation Benefits - We account for voluntary separation benefits in accordance with the provisions of ASC 712, Compensation-Nonretirement Postemployment Benefits. Voluntary separation benefits are recorded to expense when the associates irrevocably accept the offer and the amount of the termination liability is reasonably estimable.

Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities or Restructurings

Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations - We account for involuntary employee separation benefits pursuant to one-time benefit arrangements and contract termination costs in accordance with ASC 420, Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations.

Foreign Currency

Foreign Currency - In accordance with ASC 830, Foreign Currency Matters, assets and liabilities of non-U.S. subsidiaries whose functional currency is the local currency are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates prevailing at the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates during the year. The net exchange differences resulting from these translations are reported in accumulated other comprehensive loss. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in the consolidated statements of operations.

Collaborative Arrangements

Collaborative Arrangements - In accordance with ASC 808, Collaborative Arrangements, third party costs incurred and revenues generated by arrangements involving joint operating activities of two or more parties that are each actively involved and exposed to risks and rewards of the activities are classified in the consolidated statements of operations on a gross basis only if we are determined to be the principal participant in the arrangement. Otherwise, third party revenues and costs generated by collaborative arrangements are presented on a net basis. Payments between participants are recorded and classified based on the nature of the payments.