Segments of Business - Reportable operating segment (Details) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) segment	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)
Segment revenues
Total revenues		$ 80,898		$ 70,490	$ 232,596	$ 207,801
Segment operating profit (loss)
Total operating profit (loss)		642		1,241	2,693	3,401
Subtotal		879		1,450	3,362	3,818
Corporate income (expenses), net		(203)		67	(571)	49
Interest expense		(64)		(69)	(172)	(169)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes		612		1,448	$ 2,619	3,698
Number of reportable segments | segment					4
Accounts receivable, credit loss expense (reversal)					$ 780	31
Proceeds from legal settlements		23		129	220	129
Pre-tax credits related to LIFO accounting					(89)	31
Restructuring, impairment, and related charges		4		31	84	84
Gains on termination of fixed interest rate swaps		$ 97
Tax Receivable Agreement (“TRA”)
Segment operating profit (loss)
Gain on early contract termination				(126)		(126)
United States
Segment operating profit (loss)
Number of reportable segments | segment		3
Corporate
Segment operating profit (loss)
Restructuring, impairment, and related charges		$ 4		19	50	38
Gains on termination of fixed interest rate swaps				(97)		(97)
Corporate | Held-for-sale | E.U. Businesses (Disposal Group)
Segment operating profit (loss)
Loss (gain) to remeasure disposal group to fair value				(34)		(306)
U.S. Pharmaceutical
Segment revenues
Total revenues		73,023		61,934	209,949	178,940
Segment operating profit (loss)
Total operating profit (loss)		307		850	1,727	2,442
Accounts receivable, credit loss expense (reversal)		$ 515	$ 210		725
U.S. Pharmaceutical | Revenue from Contract with Customer, Product and Service Benchmark | Product Concentration Risk
Segment operating profit (loss)
Revenue derived from services, percentage (approximately or less than)		1.00%
U.S. Pharmaceutical | Operating Segments
Segment operating profit (loss)
Pre-tax credits related to LIFO accounting		$ (2)		(5)	(89)	31
Gain from sale of equity method investment						142
Proceeds from sale of equity securities	$ 179
Restructuring, impairment, and related charges		(5)		2	6	9
Prescription Technology Solutions
Segment revenues
Total revenues		1,205		1,121	3,589	3,205
Segment operating profit (loss)
Total operating profit (loss)		$ 178		136	647	400
Prescription Technology Solutions | Revenue from Contract with Customer, Product and Service Benchmark | Product Concentration Risk
Segment operating profit (loss)
Revenue derived from services, percentage (approximately or less than)		38.00%
Prescription Technology Solutions | Operating Segments
Segment operating profit (loss)
Restructuring, impairment, and related charges		$ 2		1	7	15
Medical-Surgical Solutions
Segment revenues
Total revenues		3,031		2,986	8,476	8,421
Segment operating profit (loss)
Total operating profit (loss)		$ 268		328	739	883
Medical-Surgical Solutions | Revenue from Contract with Customer, Product and Service Benchmark | Product Concentration Risk
Segment operating profit (loss)
Revenue derived from services, percentage (approximately or less than)		2.00%
Medical-Surgical Solutions | Operating Segments
Segment operating profit (loss)
Restructuring, impairment, and related charges		$ 3		1	9	3
International
Segment revenues
Total revenues		3,639		4,449	10,582	17,235
Segment operating profit (loss)
Total operating profit (loss)		$ 126		136	249	93
International | Revenue from Contract with Customer, Product and Service Benchmark | Product Concentration Risk
Segment operating profit (loss)
Revenue derived from services, percentage (approximately or less than)		1.00%
International | Operating Segments
Segment operating profit (loss)
Restructuring, impairment, and related charges		$ 0		8	12	19
International | Operating Segments | Held-for-sale | E.U. Businesses (Disposal Group)
Segment operating profit (loss)
Loss (gain) to remeasure disposal group to fair value				$ 3		$ 240
RxTs Segment
Segment operating profit (loss)
Fair value adjustment gain		$ 2			$ 78