EQUITY (Changes in Equity) (Details) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Jan. 01, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common Stock, Value, Issued, Balance at January 1,	$ 221		$ 221			$ 221
Common Stock, Value, Issued, Balance at June 30,	221		221			221
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at January 1,	1,966		1,966			1,898
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at June 30,	1,966		1,966			1,898
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss,, Balance at January 1,	(2,334)		(2,334)			(2,289)
Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss)	(100)	$ (53)	(11)	$ 36
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Balance at June 30,	(2,334)		(2,334)			(2,289)
Retained Earnings, Balance at January 1,	32,044		32,044			31,160
Net Earnings Attributable to BMS	373	$ 916	1,859	$ 2,490
Retained Earnings, Balance at June 30,	32,044		32,044			31,160
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at January 1,	(19,580)		(19,580)			(19,249)
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at June 30,	(19,580)		(19,580)			(19,249)
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at January 1,	101		101			106
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at June 30,	$ 101		$ 101			106
Accelerated Share Repurchases, Settlement (Payment) or Receipt						$ 2,000
Common Stock [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common Stock, Shares Issued, Balance at January 1,	2,208	2,208	2,208	2,208	2,208	2,208	2,208	2,208
Common Stock, Shares Issued, Balance at June 30,	2,208	2,208	2,208	2,208	2,208	2,208	2,208	2,208
Common Stock, Value, Issued, Balance at January 1,	$ 221	$ 221	$ 221	$ 221	$ 221	$ 221	$ 221	$ 221
Common Stock, Value, Issued, Balance at June 30,	221	221	221	221	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,	1,966	1,794	1,966	1,794	1,898	1,898	1,725	1,725
Employee stock compensation plans, Capital in Excess of Par			68	69
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at June 30,	1,966	1,794	1,966	1,794	1,898	1,898	1,725	1,725
Stock repurchase program, Cost				0
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss,, Balance at January 1,	(2,334)	(2,467)	(2,334)	(2,467)	(2,323)	(2,289)	(2,503)	(2,503)
Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss)			(11)	36
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Balance at June 30,	(2,334)	(2,467)	(2,334)	(2,467)	(2,323)	(2,289)	(2,503)	(2,503)
Cumulative effect of an accounting change on retained earnings					(34)
Retained Earnings [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Retained Earnings, Balance at January 1,	32,044	33,934	32,044	33,934		31,160		33,513
Cumulative effect of an accounting change on retained earnings					332		(787)
Retained Earnings, Adjusted balance at January 1, 2017					$ 31,492		$ 32,726
Net Earnings Attributable to BMS			1,859	2,490
Cash dividends declared			(1,307)	(1,282)
Retained Earnings, Balance at June 30,	$ 32,044	$ 33,934	$ 32,044	$ 33,934		$ 31,160		$ 33,513
Treasury Stock [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at January 1,	576	568	576	568	575	575	536	536
Stock repurchase program, Shares			5	36
Employee stock compensation plans, Shares			(4)	(4)
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at June 30,	576	568	576	568	575	575	536	536
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at January 1,	$ (19,580)	$ (18,783)	$ (19,580)	$ (18,783)	$ (19,249)	$ (19,249)	$ (16,779)	$ (16,779)
Stock repurchase program, Cost			(313)	(2,000)
Employee stock compensation plans, Cost			(18)	(4)
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at June 30,	(19,580)	(18,783)	(19,580)	(18,783)	(19,249)	(19,249)	(16,779)	(16,779)
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at January 1,	101	122	101	122	106	106	170	170
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest			18	17
Variable Interest Entity				59
Distributions			(23)	(6)
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at June 30,	$ 101	$ 122	$ 101	$ 122	$ 106	$ 106	$ 170	$ 170