EQUITY (Changes in Equity) (Details) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Equity [Line Items]
Common Stock, Value, Issued, Balance at January 1,				$ 221					$ 221
Common Stock, Value, Issued, Balance at December 31,	$ 221				$ 221				221	$ 221
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at January 1,				1,459					1,459
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at December 31,	1,725				1,459				1,725	1,459
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Balance at January 1				(2,468)					(2,468)
Other comprehensive loss									(35)	(43)	$ (284)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Balance at December 31	(2,503)				(2,468)				(2,503)	(2,468)
Retained Earnings, Balance at January 1,				31,613					31,613
Net Earnings/(Loss) Attributable to BMS	894	$ 1,202	$ 1,166	$ 1,195	(197)	$ 706	$ (130)	$ 1,186	4,457	1,565	$ 2,004
Retained Earnings, Balance at December 31,	$ 33,513				$ 31,613				$ 33,513	$ 31,613
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at January 1,				539					539
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at December 31,	536				539				536	539
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at January 1,				$ (16,559)					$ (16,559)
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at December 31,	$ (16,779)				$ (16,559)				(16,779)	$ (16,559)
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at January 1,				$ 158					158
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at December 31,	170				$ 158				170	$ 158
New share repurchase program, Authorized Amount	$ 3,000								$ 3,000
Common Stock [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Common Stock, Shares Issued, Balance at January 1,				2,208				2,208	2,208	2,208	2,208
Common Stock, Shares Issued, Balance at December 31,	2,208				2,208				2,208	2,208	2,208
Common Stock, Value, Issued, Balance at January 1,				$ 221				$ 221	$ 221	$ 221	$ 221
Common Stock, Value, Issued, Balance at December 31,	$ 221				$ 221				221	221	221
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at January 1,				1,459				1,507	1,459	1,507	1,922
Employee stock compensation plans, Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock									266	(48)	(393)
Debt conversion, Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock											(22)
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at December 31,	1,725				1,459				1,725	1,459	1,507
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Balance at January 1				(2,468)				(2,425)	(2,468)	(2,425)	(2,141)
Other comprehensive loss									(35)	(43)	(284)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Balance at December 31	(2,503)				(2,468)				(2,503)	(2,468)	(2,425)
Retained Earnings [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Retained Earnings, Balance at January 1,				$ 31,613				$ 32,541	31,613	32,541	32,952
Net Earnings/(Loss) Attributable to BMS									4,457	1,565	2,004
Cash dividends declared									(2,557)	(2,493)	(2,415)
Retained Earnings, Balance at December 31,	$ 33,513				$ 31,613				$ 33,513	$ 31,613	$ 32,541
Treasury Stock [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at January 1,				539				547	539	547	559
Stock repurchase program, Treasury Stock									4
Employee stock compensation plans, Shares									(7)	(8)	(11)
Debt conversion, Shares											(1)
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at December 31,	536				539				536	539	547
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at January 1,				$ (16,559)				$ (16,992)	$ (16,559)	$ (16,992)	$ (17,800)
Stock repurchase program, Cost of Treasury Stock									(231)
Employee stock compensation plans, Cost									11	431	755
Debt conversion, Cost										2	53
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at December 31,	$ (16,779)				$ (16,559)				(16,779)	(16,559)	(16,992)
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at January 1,				$ 158				$ 131	158	131	82
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest									50	84	39
Variable interest entity											59
Distributions									(38)	(57)	(49)
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at December 31,	170				$ 158				170	$ 158	$ 131
2017 ASR [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
New share repurchase program, Authorized Amount	$ 2,000								$ 2,000