Basis of Presentation, Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Presentation (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Jan. 19, 2022

Mar. 31, 2022

Dec. 31, 2021

Dec. 31, 2020

Dec. 28, 2019

Statement Presentation [Line Items]

Postemployment Benefits, Period Expense

$ 53

$ 20

$ 52

Description of New Accounting Pronouncements Not yet Adopted [Text Block]

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Reference Rate Reform. The Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting in March 2020 and ASU 2021-01, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Scope in January 2021. Such guidance provides optional financial reporting alternatives to reduce the cost and complexity associated with the accounting for contracts and hedging relationships affected by reference rate reform, such as the upcoming discontinuance of the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"). The accommodations within this guidance may be applied prospectively from the beginning of our 2020 first quarter through December 31, 2022. We are currently evaluating the effect that this guidance may have on our contracts that reference LIBOR, specifically, our Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and related interest rate swap. As of the date of this filing, we have not elected to apply any of the provisions of this guidance.

Business Combinations. The FASB issued ASU 2021-08, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers in October 2021. Such guidance amends the recognition and measurement principles that apply to business combinations to require that an entity recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination in accordance with Topic 606. ASU 2021-08 is effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2023, with early adoption permitted. The standard requires prospective application to business combinations occurring on or after the date of adoption. As of the date of this filing, we have not determined if we will early adopt.

CARES Act federal payroll taxes remitted

$ 38

CARES Act Deferred Remittance of Employer Payroll Tax included in "Accrued payroll and tax withholdings"

CARES Act Deferred Remittance of Employer Payroll Tax included in "Other liabilities"

CARES Act federal payroll taxes expected to be remitted

Subsequent Event [Member]

Statement Presentation [Line Items]

Subsequent Event, Description

On December 20, 2021, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the "Merger Agreement") with Cedar Acquisition Corporation ("Merger Subsidiary"), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of OC Acquisition LLC ("Parent"), Parent, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Oracle Corporation ("Oracle"), and (solely with respect to performance of its obligations set forth in certain specified sections thereof) Oracle. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, on January 19, 2022, Oracle commenced a cash tender offer (the "Offer") to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock for a purchase price of $95.00 per share, net to the holders thereof in cash, without interest and subject to any required tax withholding. If the Offer is completed, Merger Subsidiary will merge with and into Cerner (the "Merger") and we will become a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Oracle. As a result of the Merger, the shares of our common stock will cease to be publicly held. Completion of the Merger is subject to certain conditions, including but not limited to, a) shareholders holding a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock tendering their shares in the Offer, and b) receipt of certain regulatory approvals, including the expiration or termination of the waiting periods or the obtaining of the required affirmative approvals applicable to the transaction under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 and certain foreign antitrust and foreign direct investment laws. We have agreed to various customary covenants and agreements in the Merger Agreement, including with respect to the operation of our business prior to the closing of the transaction, such as restrictions on making certain acquisitions and divestitures, entering into certain contracts, incurring certain indebtedness and making certain capital expenditures, paying dividends in excess of our regular quarterly dividend, issuing or repurchasing stock and taking other specified actions.

On February 15, 2022, we repaid our $225 million of Series 2015-A Notes due February 15, 2022.

Employee Separation Costs [Member]

Statement Presentation [Line Items]

Restructuring Charges

$ 56

Contract Termination [Member]

Statement Presentation [Line Items]

Restructuring Charges

$ 29

$ 66