EQUITY (Changes in Equity) (Details) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Equity [Line Items]
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired	3.8
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value	$ 226
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common Stock, Value, Issued, Balance at January 1,			$ 221
Common Stock, Value, Issued, Balance at September 30,	221		221
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at January 1,			1,725
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at September 30,	1,845		1,845
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss,, Balance at January 1,			(2,503)
Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss)	46	$ 69	82	$ (267)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Balance at September 30,	(2,421)		(2,421)
Retained Earnings, Balance at January 1,			33,513
Net Earnings Attributable to BMS	845	$ 1,202	3,335	$ 3,563
Retained Earnings, Balance at September 30,	34,141		34,141
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at January 1,			(16,779)
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at September 30,	(19,003)		(19,003)
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at January 1,			170
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at September 30,	$ 131		$ 131
Common Stock [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common Stock, Shares Issued, Balance at January 1,			2,208.0	2,208.0
Common Stock, Shares Issued, Balance at September 30,	2,208.0	2,208.0	2,208.0	2,208.0
Common Stock, Value, Issued, Balance at January 1,			$ 221	$ 221
Common Stock, Value, Issued, Balance at September 30,	$ 221	$ 221	221	221
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at January 1,			1,725	1,459
Employee stock compensation plans, Capital in Excess of Par			120	191
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at September 30,	1,845	1,650	1,845	1,650
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss,, Balance at January 1,			(2,503)	(2,468)
Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss)			82	(267)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Balance at September 30,	(2,421)	(2,735)	(2,421)	(2,735)
Retained Earnings [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Retained Earnings, Balance at January 1,			33,513	31,613
Accounting change - cumulative effect	(787)		(787)
Retained Earnings, Adjusted balance at January 1, 2017	32,726		32,726
Net Earnings Attributable to BMS			3,335	3,563
Cash dividends declared			(1,920)	(1,904)
Retained Earnings, Balance at September 30,	$ 34,141	$ 33,272	$ 34,141	$ 33,272
Treasury Stock [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at January 1,			536.0	539.0
Stock repurchase program, Shares			40.0	4.0
Employee stock compensation plans, Shares			(5.0)	(6.0)
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at September 30,	571.0	537.0	571.0	537.0
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at January 1,			$ (16,779)	$ (16,559)
Stock repurchase program, Cost			(2,226)	(231)
Employee stock compensation plans, Cost			2	(5)
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at September 30,	$ (19,003)	$ (16,795)	(19,003)	(16,795)
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at January 1,			170	158
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest			28	46
Variable Interest Entity			(59)
Distributions			(8)	(36)
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at September 30,	131	$ 168	131	$ 168
2017 ASR [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount	$ 2,000		$ 2,000
Accelerated Share Repurchases, Initial Shares			28.7
Percentage Of Initial Delivery Of Shares Under Accelerated Share Repurchases			80.00%
Accelerated Share Repurchases, Final Shares			7.8