EQUITY (Changes in Equity) (Details) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
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,				1,725					1,725
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at December 31,	1,898				1,725				1,898	1,725
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Balance at January 1				(2,503)					(2,503)
Other comprehensive income/(loss)									214	(35)	$ (43)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Balance at December 31	(2,289)				(2,503)				(2,289)	(2,503)
Retained Earnings, Balance at January 1,				33,513					33,513
Net Earnings/(Loss) Attributable to BMS	(2,328)	$ 845	$ 916	$ 1,574	894	$ 1,202	$ 1,166	$ 1,195	1,007	4,457	$ 1,565
Retained Earnings, Balance at December 31,	$ 31,160				$ 33,513				$ 31,160	$ 33,513
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at January 1,				536.0					536.0
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at December 31,	575.0				536.0				575.0	536.0
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at January 1,				$ (16,779)					$ (16,779)
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at December 31,	$ (19,249)				$ (16,779)				(19,249)	$ (16,779)
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at January 1,				$ 170					170
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at December 31,	$ 106				$ 170				$ 106	$ 170
Common Stock [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Common Stock, Shares Issued, Balance at January 1,				2,208.0				2,208.0	2,208.0	2,208.0	2,208.0
Common Stock, Shares Issued, Balance at December 31,	2,208.0				2,208.0				2,208.0	2,208.0	2,208.0
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,				1,725				1,459	1,725	1,459	1,507
Employee stock compensation plans, Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock									173	266	(48)
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at December 31,	1,898				1,725				1,898	1,725	1,459
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Balance at January 1				(2,503)				(2,468)	(2,503)	(2,468)	(2,425)
Other comprehensive income/(loss)									214	(35)	(43)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Balance at December 31	(2,289)				(2,503)				(2,289)	(2,503)	(2,468)
Retained Earnings [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Retained Earnings, Balance at January 1,				$ 33,513				$ 31,613	33,513	31,613	32,541
Accounting change - cumulative effect	(787)								(787)
Retained Earnings, adjusted balance at January 1, 2017	32,726								32,726
Net Earnings/(Loss) Attributable to BMS									1,007	4,457	1,565
Cash dividends declared									(2,573)	(2,557)	(2,493)
Retained Earnings, Balance at December 31,	$ 31,160				$ 33,513				$ 31,160	$ 33,513	$ 31,613
Treasury Stock [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at January 1,				536.0				539.0	536.0	539.0	547.0
Stock repurchase program, Treasury Stock									44.0	4.0
Employee stock compensation plans, Shares									(5.0)	(7.0)	(8.0)
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at December 31,	575.0				536.0				575.0	536.0	539.0
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at January 1,				$ (16,779)				$ (16,559)	$ (16,779)	$ (16,559)	$ (16,992)
Stock repurchase program, Cost of Treasury Stock									(2,477)	(231)
Employee stock compensation plans, Cost									7	11	431
Debt conversion, Cost											2
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at December 31,	$ (19,249)				$ (16,779)				(19,249)	(16,779)	(16,559)
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at January 1,				$ 170				$ 158	170	158	131
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest									27	50	84
Variable interest entity									(59)
Distributions									(32)	(38)	(57)
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at December 31,	$ 106				$ 170				106	$ 170	$ 158
2017 ASR [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value									$ 2,000
Stock repurchase program, Treasury Stock									36.5