EQUITY (Changes in Equity) (Details) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Jan. 01, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common Stock, Value, Issued, Balance at Beginning of Period	$ 221		$ 221				$ 221
Common Stock, Value, Issued, Balance at September 30,	221		221				221
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at Beginning of Period	2,029		2,029				1,898
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at September 30,	2,029		2,029				1,898
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Balance at Beginning of Period	(2,326)		(2,326)				(2,289)
Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss)	8	$ 46	(3)	$ 82
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Balance at September 30,	(2,326)		(2,326)				(2,289)
Retained Earnings, Balance at December 31,	33,292		33,292				31,160
Net Earnings Attributable to BMS	1,901	$ 845	3,760	$ 3,335
Retained Earnings, Balance at September 30,	33,292		33,292				31,160
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at Beginning of Period	(19,576)		(19,576)				(19,249)
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at September 30,	(19,576)		(19,576)				(19,249)
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at Beginning of Period	110		110				106
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at September 30,	$ 110		$ 110				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 Beginning of Period	2,208	2,208	2,208	2,208	2,208	2,208	2,208	2,208	2,208	2,208
Common Stock, Shares Issued, Balance at September 30,	2,208	2,208	2,208	2,208	2,208	2,208	2,208	2,208	2,208	2,208
Common Stock, Value, Issued, Balance at Beginning of Period	$ 221	$ 221	$ 221	$ 221	$ 221	$ 221	$ 221	$ 221	$ 221	$ 221
Common Stock, Value, Issued, Balance at September 30,	221	221	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 Beginning of Period	2,029	1,845	2,029	1,845	1,966	1,898	1,898	1,794	1,725	1,725
Employee stock compensation plans, Capital in Excess of Par	63	(51)	131	(120)
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at September 30,	2,029	1,845	2,029	1,845	1,966	1,898	1,898	1,794	1,725	1,725
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Balance at Beginning of Period	(2,326)	(2,421)	(2,326)	(2,421)	(2,334)	(2,323)	(2,289)	(2,467)	(2,503)	(2,503)
Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss)	8	46	(3)	82
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Balance at September 30,	(2,326)	(2,421)	(2,326)	(2,421)	(2,334)	(2,323)	(2,289)	(2,467)	(2,503)	(2,503)
Cumulative effect of an accounting change on retained earnings						(34)			0
Retained Earnings [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Retained Earnings, Balance at December 31,	33,292	34,141	33,292	34,141	32,044		31,160	33,934		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	1,901	845	3,760	3,335
Cash dividends declared	(653)	(638)	(1,960)	(1,920)
Retained Earnings, Balance at September 30,	$ 33,292	$ 34,141	$ 33,292	$ 34,141	$ 32,044		$ 31,160	$ 33,934		$ 33,513
Treasury Stock [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at Beginning of Period	576	571	576	571	576	575	575	568	536	536
Stock repurchase program, Shares		4	5	40
Employee stock compensation plans, Shares		1	(4)	(5)
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at September 30,	576	571	576	571	576	575	575	568	536	536
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at Beginning of Period	$ (19,576)	$ (19,003)	$ (19,576)	$ (19,003)	$ (19,580)	$ (19,249)	$ (19,249)	$ (18,783)	$ (16,779)	$ (16,779)
Stock repurchase program, Cost		(226)	(313)	(2,226)
Employee stock compensation plans, Cost	4	6	(14)	2
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at September 30,	(19,576)	(19,003)	(19,576)	(19,003)	(19,580)	(19,249)	(19,249)	(18,783)	(16,779)	(16,779)
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at Beginning of Period	110	131	110	131	101	106	106	122	170	170
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest	11	11	29	28
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at September 30,	110	131	110	131	$ 101	$ 106	$ 106	$ 122	$ 170	$ 170
Change In Noncontrolling Interest Related to Variable Interest Entities				(59)
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	$ (2)	$ (2)	$ (25)	$ (8)