BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS Business Acquisitions (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Business Combinations [Abstract]

Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Table Text Block]

	Year Ended December 31,
	2015		2014
Total revenues	$	9,033.3	$	8,711.2
Operating income	1,123.3		907.7
Net income attributable to Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings	546.8		423.0
Earnings per share:
Basic	$	5.04	$	4.22
Diluted	$	5.02	$	4.16

Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition [Table Text Block]

Consideration Transferred
Stock consideration						$	1,762.5
Cash consideration						4,388.2
						$	6,150.7
	Preliminary February 19, 2015		Measurement Period Adjustments			Adjusted February 19, 2015
Net Assets Acquired
Cash and cash equivalents	$	780.8	$	—		$	780.8
Accounts receivable	334.8		—			334.8
Unbilled services	138.7		—			138.7
Inventories	51.9		—			51.9
Prepaid expenses and other	261.4		86.5			347.9
Deferred income taxes	34.4		—			34.4
Property, plant and equipment	844.2		174.0			1,018.2
Goodwill	3,176.1		(135.9		)	3,040.2
Customer relationships	1,917.2		(86.9		)	1,830.3
Trade names and trademarks	289.4		(18.9		)	270.5
Land use right	4.9		(4.9		)	—
Technology	—		74.5			74.5
Favorable leases	—		5.5			5.5
Other assets	15.2		(3.2		)	12.0
Total assets acquired	7,849.0		90.7			7,939.7
Accounts payable	190.8		—			190.8
Accrued expenses and other	280.8		—			280.8
Unearned revenue	168.0		—			168.0
Deferred income taxes	730.2		61.2			791.4
Senior Notes	250.0		—			250.0
Other liabilities	78.5		29.5			108
Total liabilities acquired	1,698.3		90.7			1,789.0
Net assets acquired	$	6,150.7	$	—		$	6,150.7