Business Segments Business Segments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]

	2016			2015			2014
Net revenues:
LCD	$	6,593.9		$	6,199.3		$	5,838.0
CDD	2,844.1			2,306.4			173.6
Intercompany eliminations	(0.8		)	—			—
Total net revenues	$	9,437.2		$	8,505.7		$	6,011.6
Operating earnings (loss):
LCD	$	1,187.6		$	1,053.7		$	976.2
CDD	272.7			73.5			40.7
General corporate expenses	(147.9		)	(130.4		)	(112.6		)
Total operating income	1,312.4			996.8			904.3
Non-operating expenses, net	(206.9		)	(270.8		)	(83.7		)
Earnings before income taxes	1,105.5			726.0			820.6
Provision for income taxes	372.3			287.3			308.0
Net earnings	733.2			438.7			512.6
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1.1		)	(1.1		)	(1.4		)
Net income attributable to Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings	$	732.1		$	437.6		$	511.2

	2016		2015		2014
Depreciation and amortization
LCD	$	270.9	$	245.8	$	184.8
CDD	219.5		184.4		5.3
General corporate	0.1		4.1		44.2
Total depreciation and amortization	$	490.5	$	434.3	$	234.3

	LCD		CDD		Intercompany Eliminations			Total
Geographic distribution of net revenues
US	$	6,246.1	$	1,395.2	$	(0.8	)	$	7,640.5
Canada	295.8		—		—			295.8
United Kingdom	41.8		234.1		—			275.9
Switzerland	—		450.5		—			450.5
Other	10.2		764.3		—			774.5
Total net revenues	$	6,593.9	$	2,844.1	$	(0.8	)	$	9,437.2

	LCD		CDD		Total
Geographic distribution of property, plant and equipment, net
U.S.	$	778.5	$	639.3	$	1,417.8
Canada	50.1		—		50.1
U.K.	2.4		105.5		107.9
Switzerland	—		81.4		81.4
Other	0.9		60.5		61.4
Total property, plant and equipment, net	$	831.9	$	886.7	$	1,718.6