SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Reimbursable Out of Pocket Expenses Policy [Policy Text Block]

Reimbursable Out-of-Pocket Expenses

CDD pays on behalf of its customers certain out-of-pocket costs for which the Company is reimbursed at cost, without mark-up or profit. Out-of-pocket costs paid by CDD are reflected in operating expenses, while the reimbursements received are reflected in revenues in the consolidated statements of operations.

Cost of Sales, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cost of Revenue

Cost of revenue includes direct labor and related benefit charges, other direct costs, shipping and handling fees, and an allocation of facility charges and information technology costs. Selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of administrative payroll and related benefit charges, advertising and promotional expenses, administrative travel and an allocation of facility charges and information technology costs. Cost of advertising is expensed as incurred.

Basis of Financial Statement Presentation

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings^® together with its subsidiaries (the Company), is a leading global life sciences company that is deeply integrated in guiding patient care, providing comprehensive clinical laboratory and end-to-end drug development services. The Company’s mission is to improve health and improve lives by delivering world-class diagnostic solutions, bringing innovative medicines to patients faster and using technology to provide better care. The Company serves a broad range of customers, including managed care organizations (MCOs), biopharmaceutical companies, governmental agencies, physicians and other healthcare providers (e.g. physician assistants and nurse practitioners, generally referred to herein as physicians), hospitals and health systems, employers, patients and consumers, contract research organizations (CROs), food and nutritional companies and independent clinical laboratories. During 2018, the Company sold its Covance Food Solutions (CFS) business, which provided food testing and integrity services, as well as its domestic and international forensic analysis businesses. The Company believes that it generated more revenue from laboratory testing than any other company in the world in 2018.

The Company reports its business in two segments, LabCorp Diagnostics (LCD) and Covance Drug Development (CDD). For further financial information about these segments, including information for each of the last three fiscal years regarding revenue, operating income, and other important information, see Note 21 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. In 2018, LCD and CDD contributed 62% and 38%, respectively, of revenues to the Company, and in 2017 contributed 67% and 33%, respectively.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries for which it exercises control. Long-term investments in affiliated companies in which the Company exercises significant influence, but which it does not control, are accounted for using the equity method. Investments in which the Company does not exercise significant influence (generally, when the Company has an investment of less than 20% and no representation on the investee's board of directors) are accounted for at fair value or at cost minus impairment for those investments that do not have readily determinable fair values. All significant inter-company transactions and accounts have been eliminated. The Company does not have any variable interest entities or special purpose entities whose financial results are not included in the consolidated financial statements.

The financial statements of the Company's operating foreign subsidiaries are measured using the local currency as the functional currency. Assets and liabilities are translated at exchange rates as of the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at average monthly exchange rates prevailing during the year. Resulting translation adjustments are included in “Accumulated other comprehensive income.”

Revenue Recognition

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued the converged standard on revenue recognition with the objective of providing a single, comprehensive model for all contracts with customers to improve comparability in the financial statements of companies reporting using International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and United States (U.S.) Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). The standard contains principles that an entity must apply to determine the measurement of revenue and timing of when it is recognized. The underlying principle is that an entity must recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers at an amount that the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services.

The standard was effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2018. The Company elected to adopt the standard using the full retrospective approach, which resulted in a recasting of revenue and the related financial statement items for 2016 and 2017. During transition to the new standard, the Company also elected several practical expedients, as provided by the standard. Contracts that began and ended within the same annual reporting period were not restated. Contracts that were completed by December 31, 2017 that had variable consideration were estimated using the transaction price at the date the contract was completed. The amount of the transaction price allocated to the remaining performance obligations were not disclosed for prior reporting periods. Contracts that were modified prior to the earliest reporting period were reflected in the earliest reporting period with an aggregate adjustment for prior modifications.

As a result of the new standard, the Company has changed its accounting policies for revenue recognition. The significant changes under the new standard, and the quantitative impact of these changes, are detailed below.

LCD

The primary impact of the new standard to the LCD segment was classifying bad debt expense of $312.5 and $287.9 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, as a reduction in revenue rather than as a selling, general and administrative expense.

CDD

The primary impact of the new standard to the CDD segment was as follows:

Investigator fees: Prior to the new standard, reimbursements of investigator fees by clients were netted against the amounts paid to investigators in net revenues, on the basis that CDD was acting as the agent in arranging the investigator services. Under the new standard, revenue for investigator services and other reimbursable activities is recognized gross of fees paid to the investigators and other vendors, on the basis that a clinical study is considered a single, combined performance obligation for which CDD acts as a principal. Where CDD assumes the obligations by contract in studies involving patients, CDD is the principal because CDD may contract directly with third party clinical trial sites and investigators for investigator services and other reimbursable activities, which are combined with other CDD services in the management of a clinical study. Where CDD has assumed certain clinical trial sponsor obligations by contract in studies involving patients, CDD has primary responsibility for fulfilling its obligations associated with the full management of a clinical study, is subject to inventory risk since it may be obligated to compensate investigators and other vendors for reimbursable activities regardless of payment by the customer, and has discretion within the framework agreed upon with the customer in setting the price of the study, including the budget for all pass-through costs, including investigator grants.

The financial impact of this change on revenue for the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 was an increase of $267.6 and $234.5, respectively. Revenue and expenses from reimbursable out-of-pocket costs were previously recognized gross as separate line items from Net revenues and Net cost of revenue in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Under the new standard, reimbursable out-of-pocket costs continue to be recognized gross, but are no longer presented separately (i.e., expenses are included in Cost of revenues and reimbursements are included in Revenues). In the statement of financial position, unbilled investigator fees and reimbursable out of pocket costs were reclassified from “Prepaid expenses and other” to “Unbilled services” and billed investigator grants and reimbursable out-of-pocket costs were reclassified from “Prepaid expenses and other” to “Accounts receivable, net.”

Measure of progress: Prior to the new standard, service fee revenue in clinical studies was recognized on a proportional-performance basis, generally using output measures that are specific to the service provided (e.g., number of investigators enrolled, number of sites initiated, number of trial subjects enrolled and number of monitoring visits completed), while reimbursable out-of-pocket revenue was recognized when the associated expense was incurred. Changes in contract value from changes in scope were reflected once the customer agreed to the changes in scope and renegotiated pricing terms. Under the new standard, revenue in a clinical study (inclusive of budgeted reimbursable pass-through costs) is recognized using an input-based measure of progress based on costs incurred (including pass-through costs such as investigator services and reimbursable out-of-pocket expenses). If a customer’s approval of a work scope change creates an enforceable right to payment, the related revenue will be estimated and included in the measure of progress before a formal change order is executed, which results in recognition of revenue as services are provided. The financial impact of this change on revenue for the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 was a decrease of $58.9 and $36.1, respectively.

Sales commissions: Prior to the new standard, sales commissions were recorded as an expense each quarter when incurred. Under the new standard, sales commissions are amortized according to the expected service period to which the commissions relate on the basis that they are recoverable through the margin inherent in the contracts and recognizes the unamortized commissions as current and long-term assets.

The Company applied the portfolio practical expedient in the new standard to determine the amortization period for assets recognized from sales commissions. Under the portfolio approach, the Company determined CDD's weighted average contract term for groups of contracts with similar characteristics, and then amortized the capitalized sales commissions for that group over that term. The Company believes that any difference between the amortization patterns under the specific identification approach and the portfolio approach are not significant to the Company's consolidated financial statements. The financial impact of this change on selling, general, and administrative expenses for the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 was a decrease of $2.9 and $4.4, respectively.

The total quantitative impact of the new standard on retained earnings as of January 1, 2016 was an increase of $33.5

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported periods. Significant estimates include implicit price concessions, revenue estimates, the allowances for doubtful accounts, deferred tax assets, fair values and amortization lives for intangible assets, and accruals for self-insurance reserves and pensions. The allowance for doubtful accounts is determined based on historical collections trends, the aging of accounts, current economic conditions and regulatory changes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable.

The Company maintains cash and cash equivalents with various major financial institutions. The total cash and cash equivalent balances that exceeded the balances insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Commission, were approximately $423.0 and $315.5 at December 31, 2018, and 2017, respectively.

Substantially all of the Company’s accounts receivable are with companies in the healthcare or biopharmaceutical industry and individuals. However, concentrations of credit risk are mitigated due to the number of the Company’s customers as well as their dispersion across many different geographic regions.

Although LCD has receivables due from U.S. and state governmental agencies, the Company does not believe that such receivables represent a credit risk since the related healthcare programs are funded by U.S. and state governments, and payment is primarily dependent upon submitting appropriate documentation. Accounts receivable balances (gross) from Medicare and Medicaid were $88.8 and $109.8 at December 31, 2018, and 2017, respectively.

For the Company's operations in Ontario, Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (Ministry) determines who can establish a licensed community medical laboratory and caps the amount that each of these licensed laboratories can bill the government sponsored healthcare plan. The Ontario government-sponsored healthcare plan covers the cost of commercial laboratory testing performed by the licensed laboratories. The provincial government discounts the annual testing volumes based on certain utilization discounts and establishes an annual maximum it will pay for all community laboratory tests. The agreed-upon reimbursement rates are subject to Ministry review at the end of year and can be adjusted (at the government's discretion) based upon the actual volume and mix of test work performed by the licensed healthcare providers in the province during the year. The capitated accounts receivable balances from the Ontario government sponsored healthcare plan were CAD 0.5 and CAD 12.9 at December 31, 2018, and 2017, respectively.

The portion of the Company's accounts receivable due from patients comprises the largest portion of credit risk. At December 31, 2018, and 2017, receivables due from patients represented approximately 21.5% and 20.9% of the Company's consolidated gross accounts receivable. The Company applies assumptions and judgments including historical collection experience for assessing collectability and determining allowances for doubtful accounts for accounts receivable from patients.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net earnings attributable to Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net earnings including the impact of dilutive adjustments by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus potentially dilutive shares, as if they had been issued at the earlier of the date of issuance or the beginning of the period presented. Potentially dilutive common shares result primarily from the Company’s outstanding stock options, restricted stock awards, performance share awards, and shares issuable upon conversion of zero-coupon subordinated notes.

The following represents a reconciliation of basic earnings per share to diluted earnings per share:



	2018					2017					2016
	Income		Shares	Per Share Amount		Income		Shares	Per Share Amount		Income		Shares	Per Share Amount
Basic earnings per share	$	883.7	101.4	$	8.71	$	1,227.1	102.4	$	11.99	$	711.8	102.5	$	6.94
Stock options and restricted stock units	—		1.2			—		1.4			—		1.5
Effect of convertible debt, net of tax	—		—			—		0.1			—		0.3
Diluted earnings per share	$	883.7	102.6	$	8.61	$	1,227.1	103.9	$	11.81	$	711.8	104.3	$	6.82

The following table summarizes the potential common shares not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because their impact would have been antidilutive:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2018	2017	2016
Stock options	0.1	0.1	—

Stock Compensation Plans

The Company measures stock compensation cost for all equity awards at fair value on the date of grant and recognizes compensation expense over the service period for awards expected to vest. The fair value of restricted stock units and performance share awards is determined based on the number of shares granted and the quoted price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. Such value is recognized as expense over the service period, net of estimated forfeitures. The estimation of equity awards that will ultimately vest requires judgment and the Company considers many factors when estimating expected forfeitures, including types of awards, employee class, and historical experience. The cumulative effect on current and prior periods of a change in the estimated forfeiture rate is recognized as compensation expense in earnings in the period of the revision. Actual results and future estimates may differ substantially from the Company’s current estimates.

See Note 15 for assumptions used in calculating compensation expense for the Company’s stock compensation plans.

Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist of highly liquid instruments, such as commercial paper, time deposits, and other money market instruments, substantially all of which have maturities when purchased of three months or less.

Inventories

Inventories, consisting primarily of purchased laboratory and customer supplies and finished goods, are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market. Supplies accounted for $200.1 and $195.2 and finished goods accounted for $37.2 and $32.4 of total inventory at December 31, 2018, and 2017, respectively.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. The cost of properties held under capital leases is equal to the lower of the net present value of the minimum lease payments or the fair value of the leased property at the inception of the lease. Depreciation and amortization expense is computed on all classes of assets based on their estimated useful lives, as indicated below, using the straight-line method.



	Years
Buildings and building improvements	10	-	40
Machinery and equipment	3	-	10
Furniture and fixtures	5	-	10
Software	3	-	10

Leasehold improvements and assets held under capital leases are amortized over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or the term of the related leases. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are charged to operations as incurred. Retirements, sales and other disposals of assets are recorded by removing the cost and accumulated depreciation from the related accounts with any resulting gain or loss reflected in the consolidated statements of operations.

Capitalized Software Costs

The Company capitalizes purchased software which is ready for service and capitalizes software development costs incurred on significant projects starting from the time that the preliminary project stage is completed and the Company commits to funding a project until the project is substantially complete and the software is ready for its intended use. Capitalized costs include direct material and service costs and payroll and payroll-related costs. Research and development (R&D) costs and other computer software maintenance costs related to software development are expensed as incurred. Capitalized software costs are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the underlying system ranging from three to ten years, generally five years.

Long-Lived Assets

The Company assesses goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles for impairment at least annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable.

Management performed its annual goodwill and intangible asset impairment testing as of the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2018. The Company elected to perform the qualitative assessment for goodwill and intangible assets for all reporting units except the Canadian reporting unit and its indefinite-lived assets consisting of acquired Canadian licenses for which a quantitative assessment was performed.

In this qualitative assessment, the Company considered relevant events and circumstances for each reporting unit, including (i) current year results, (ii) financial performance versus management’s annual and five-year strategic plans, iii) changes in the reporting unit carrying value since prior year, (iv) industry and market conditions in which the reporting unit operates, (v) macroeconomic conditions, including discount rate changes, and (vi) changes in products or services offered by the reporting unit. If applicable, performance in recent years was compared to forecasts included in prior valuations. Based on the results of the qualitative assessment, the Company concluded that it was not more likely than not that the carrying values of the goodwill and intangible assets were greater than their fair values, and that further quantitative testing was not necessary.

The Company utilized an income approach to determine the fair value of its Canadian reporting unit and its indefinite-lived assets consisting of acquired Canadian licenses. Based upon the results of the quantitative assessment, the Company concluded that the fair value of the indefinite-lived Canadian licenses was greater than the carrying value.

Long-lived assets, other than goodwill and indefinite-lived assets, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is determined by the Company at the level for which there are identifiable cash flows by comparison of the carrying amount of the assets to future undiscounted net cash flows before interest expense and income taxes expected to be generated by the assets. Impairment, if any, is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets (based on market prices in an active market or on discounted cash flows). Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected periods to be benefited, as set forth in the table below, such as legal life for patents and technology and contractual lives for non-compete agreements.



	Years
Customer relationships	10	-	36
Patents, licenses and technology	3	-	15
Non-compete agreements	5
Trade names	5	-	15

Debt Issuance Costs

The costs related to the issuance of debt are capitalized, netted against the related debt for presentation purposes and amortized to interest expense over the terms of the related debt.

Professional Liability

The Company is self-insured (up to certain limits) for professional liability claims arising in the normal course of business, generally related to the testing and reporting of laboratory test results. The Company estimates a liability that represents the ultimate exposure for aggregate losses below those limits. The liability is based on assumptions and factors for known and incurred but not reported claims, including the frequency and payment trends of historical claims.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes utilizing the asset and liability method. Under this method 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 and for tax loss carryforwards. 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. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company does not recognize a tax benefit unless the Company concludes that it is more likely than not that the benefit will be sustained on audit by the taxing authority based solely on the technical merits of the associated tax position. If the recognition threshold is met, the Company recognizes a tax benefit measured at the largest amount of the tax benefit that the Company believes is greater than 50% likely to be realized. The Company records interest and penalties in income tax expense.

Derivative Financial Instruments

Interest rate swap agreements, which have been used by the Company from time to time in the management of interest rate exposure, are accounted for at fair value.

The Company’s zero-coupon subordinated notes contain two features that are considered to be embedded derivative instruments under authoritative guidance in connection with accounting for derivative instruments and hedging activities. The Company believes these embedded derivatives had no fair value at December 31, 2018, and 2017.

Cross currency swap agreements, which have been used by the Company to hedge exposure of its net investment in a foreign subsidiary denominated in non-U.S. currency, are accounted for at fair value.

See Note 19 for the Company’s objectives in using derivative instruments and the effect of derivative instruments and related hedged items on the Company’s financial position, financial performance and cash flows.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair value measurements for financial assets and liabilities are determined based on the assumptions that a market participant would use in pricing an asset or liability. A three-tiered fair value hierarchy draws distinctions between market participant assumptions based on (i) observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets (Level 1), (ii) inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly (Level 2) and (iii) unobservable inputs that require the Company to use present value and other valuation techniques in the determination of fair value (Level 3).

Research and Development

The Company expenses R&D costs as incurred.

Foreign Currency Disclosure [Text Block]

Foreign Currencies

For subsidiaries outside of the U.S. that operate in a local currency environment, income and expense items are translated to U.S. dollars at the monthly average rates of exchange prevailing during the period, assets and liabilities are translated at period-end exchange rates and equity accounts are translated at historical exchange rates. Translation adjustments are accumulated in a separate component of shareholders’ equity in the consolidated balance sheets and are included in the determination of comprehensive income in the consolidated statements of comprehensive earnings and consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity. Transaction gains and losses are included in the determination of net income in the consolidated statements of operations.