Debt and Financing Activities	9 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt and Financing Activities	Financing Activities Senior Bridge Term Loan In connection with our execution of an agreement to acquire PSS World Medical, in December 2012 we entered into a $2.1 billion unsecured Senior Bridge Term Loan Agreement (“Bridge Loan”). No amount has been drawn under the Bridge Loan as of December 31, 2012. The Bridge Loan may be drawn on the closing date of the PSS World Medical acquisition to pay the equity shareholders of PSS World Medical, repay certain indebtedness of PSS World Medical and its subsidiaries and pay transaction costs associated with the acquisition. The Bridge Loan matures on the first anniversary from the PSS World Medical acquisition date and must be repaid in full at that time, or, in full or in part, upon certain events occurring prior to such time, including specified debt and equity issuances and asset sales. The Bridge Loan bears interest based on the London Interbank Offered Rate plus a margin based on the Company’s credit ratings. Amounts repaid under the Bridge Loan cannot be redrawn by the Company. The Bridge Loan contains terms substantially similar to those in our existing revolving credit facility. We expect that we will refinance all or part of the funds obtained from the draw down of the Bridge Loan with longer-term debt financing prior to the end of the Bridge Loan’s one year term. Long-Term Debt On December 4, 2012, we issued 0.95% notes due December 4, 2015 in an aggregate principal amount of $500 million (“Notes due 2015”) and 2.70% notes due December 15, 2022 in an aggregate principal amount of $400 million (“Notes due 2022”). Interest on the Notes due 2015 is payable on June 4 and December 4 of each year beginning on June 4, 2013 and on the Notes due 2022 is payable on June 15 and December 15 of each year beginning on June 15, 2013. We utilized net proceeds, after discounts and offering expenses, of $892 million from the issuance of these notes (each note constitutes a “Series”) for general corporate purposes and replenishing working capital that was used to repay long-term debt that matured in February 2012. Each Series constitutes an unsecured and unsubordinated obligation of the Company and ranks equally with all of the Company’s existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness outstanding from time-to-time. Each Series is governed by materially similar indentures and an officers’ certificate specifying certain terms of each Series. Upon 30 days notice to holders of a Series, we may redeem that Series at any time prior to maturity, in whole or in part, for cash at redemption prices that include accrued and unpaid interest and a make-whole premium, as specified in the indenture and officers’ certificate relating to that Series. In the event of the occurrence of both (1) a change of control of the Company and (2) a downgrade of a Series below an investment grade rating by each of Fitch Ratings, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services within a specified period, an offer will be made to purchase that Series from the holders at a price in cash equal to 101% of the then outstanding principal amount of that Series, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of repurchase. The indenture and the related officers’ certificate for each Series, subject to the exceptions and in compliance with the conditions as applicable, specify that we may not incur liens, enter into sale and leaseback transactions or consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of our assets. The indentures also contain customary events of default provisions. Accounts Receivable Sales Facility In May 2012, we renewed our existing accounts receivable sales facility (the “Facility”) for a one year period under terms substantially similar to those previously in place. The committed balance of the Facility is $1.35 billion, although from time-to-time, the available amount of the Facility may be less than $1.35 billion based on accounts receivable concentration limits and other eligibility requirements. The renewed Facility will expire in May 2013. During the nine months ended December 31, 2011, there were no borrowings under the Facility. At March 31, 2012, there were $400 million in secured borrowings and $400 million of related securitized accounts receivable outstanding under the Facility, which are included in short-term borrowings and receivables in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. During the first quarter of 2013, we repaid $400 million of short-term borrowings using cash on hand. During the second quarter of 2013, there were a total of $1,125 million of short-term borrowings under the Facility all of which were repaid in the same quarter using cash on hand. During the third quarter of 2013, there were no borrowings under the Facility. At December 31, 2012, there were no short-term borrowings and related securitized accounts receivable outstanding under the Facility. The Facility contains requirements relating to the performance of the accounts receivable and covenants relating to the Company. If we do not comply with these covenants, our ability to use the Facility may be suspended and repayment of any outstanding balances under the Facility may be required. At December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2012, we were in compliance with all covenants. Revolving Credit Facility We have a syndicated $1.3 billion five-year senior unsecured revolving credit facility, which expires in September 2016. Borrowings under this facility bear interest based upon either the London Interbank Offered Rate or a prime rate. There were no borrowings under this facility during the first nine months of 2013 and 2012. As of December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2012 there were no amounts outstanding under this facility.

Financing Activities

Senior Bridge Term Loan

In connection with our execution of an agreement to acquire PSS World Medical, in December 2012 we entered into a $2.1 billion unsecured Senior Bridge Term Loan Agreement (“Bridge Loan”). No amount has been drawn under the Bridge Loan as of December 31, 2012. The Bridge Loan may be drawn on the closing date of the PSS World Medical acquisition to pay the equity shareholders of PSS World Medical, repay certain indebtedness of PSS World Medical and its subsidiaries and pay transaction costs associated with the acquisition. The Bridge Loan matures on the first anniversary from the PSS World Medical acquisition date and must be repaid in full at that time, or, in full or in part, upon certain events occurring prior to such time, including specified debt and equity issuances and asset sales. The Bridge Loan bears interest based on the London Interbank Offered Rate plus a margin based on the Company’s credit ratings. Amounts repaid under the Bridge Loan cannot be redrawn by the Company. The Bridge Loan contains terms substantially similar to those in our existing revolving credit facility. We expect that we will refinance all or part of the funds obtained from the draw down of the Bridge Loan with longer-term debt financing prior to the end of the Bridge Loan’s one year term.

Long-Term Debt

On December 4, 2012, we issued 0.95% notes due December 4, 2015 in an aggregate principal amount of $500 million (“Notes due 2015”) and 2.70% notes due December 15, 2022 in an aggregate principal amount of $400 million (“Notes due 2022”). Interest on the Notes due 2015 is payable on June 4 and December 4 of each year beginning on June 4, 2013 and on the Notes due 2022 is payable on June 15 and December 15 of each year beginning on June 15, 2013. We utilized net proceeds, after discounts and offering expenses, of $892 million from the issuance of these notes (each note constitutes a “Series”) for general corporate purposes and replenishing working capital that was used to repay long-term debt that matured in February 2012.

Each Series constitutes an unsecured and unsubordinated obligation of the Company and ranks equally with all of the Company’s existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness outstanding from time-to-time. Each Series is governed by materially similar indentures and an officers’ certificate specifying certain terms of each Series.

Upon 30 days notice to holders of a Series, we may redeem that Series at any time prior to maturity, in whole or in part, for cash at redemption prices that include accrued and unpaid interest and a make-whole premium, as specified in the indenture and officers’ certificate relating to that Series. In the event of the occurrence of both (1) a change of control of the Company and (2) a downgrade of a Series below an investment grade rating by each of Fitch Ratings, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services within a specified period, an offer will be made to purchase that Series from the holders at a price in cash equal to 101% of the then outstanding principal amount of that Series, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of repurchase. The indenture and the related officers’ certificate for each Series, subject to the exceptions and in compliance with the conditions as applicable, specify that we may not incur liens, enter into sale and leaseback transactions or consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of our assets. The indentures also contain customary events of default provisions.

Accounts Receivable Sales Facility

In May 2012, we renewed our existing accounts receivable sales facility (the “Facility”) for a one year period under terms substantially similar to those previously in place. The committed balance of the Facility is $1.35 billion, although from time-to-time, the available amount of the Facility may be less than $1.35 billion based on accounts receivable concentration limits and other eligibility requirements. The renewed Facility will expire in May 2013.

During the nine months ended December 31, 2011, there were no borrowings under the Facility. At March 31, 2012, there were $400 million in secured borrowings and $400 million of related securitized accounts receivable outstanding under the Facility, which are included in short-term borrowings and receivables in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. During the first quarter of 2013, we repaid $400 million of short-term borrowings using cash on hand. During the second quarter of 2013, there were a total of $1,125 million of short-term borrowings under the Facility all of which were repaid in the same quarter using cash on hand. During the third quarter of 2013, there were no borrowings under the Facility. At December 31, 2012, there were no short-term borrowings and related securitized accounts receivable outstanding under the Facility.

The Facility contains requirements relating to the performance of the accounts receivable and covenants relating to the Company. If we do not comply with these covenants, our ability to use the Facility may be suspended and repayment of any outstanding balances under the Facility may be required. At December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2012, we were in compliance with all covenants.

Revolving Credit Facility

We have a syndicated $1.3 billion five-year senior unsecured revolving credit facility, which expires in September 2016. Borrowings under this facility bear interest based upon either the London Interbank Offered Rate or a prime rate. There were no borrowings under this facility during the first nine months of 2013 and 2012. As of December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2012 there were no amounts outstanding under this facility.