EQUITY (Changes in Equity) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Jan. 01, 2018	Jan. 01, 2017
Equity [Line Items]
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared	$ 0.41	$ 0.40	$ 0.40	$ 0.40	$ 0.40	$ 0.39	$ 0.39	$ 0.39	$ 1.61	$ 1.57	$ 1.53
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,				1,898					1,898
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at December 31,	2,081				1,898				2,081	1,898
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Balance at January 1				(2,289)					(2,289)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax									(156)	214	$ (35)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Balance at December 31	(2,762)				(2,289)				(2,762)	(2,289)
Retained Earnings, Balance at January 1,				31,160					31,160
Net Earnings/(Loss) Attributable to BMS	1,160	$ 1,901	$ 373	$ 1,486	(2,328)	$ 845	$ 916	$ 1,574	4,920	1,007	4,457
Retained Earnings, Balance at December 31,	$ 34,065				$ 31,160				$ 34,065	$ 31,160
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at January 1,				575					575
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at December 31,	576				575				576	575
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at January 1,				$ (19,249)					$ (19,249)
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at December 31,	$ (19,574)				$ (19,249)				(19,574)	$ (19,249)
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at January 1,				106					106
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	2	$ (11)	$ (9)	$ (9)	1	$ (11)	$ (6)	$ 48	(27)	32	$ (50)
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at December 31,	$ 96				$ 106				$ 96	$ 106
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,				1,898				1,725	1,898	1,725	1,459
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at December 31,	2,081				1,898				2,081	1,898	1,725
Stock compensation									183	173	266
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Balance at January 1				(2,289)				(2,503)	(2,289)	(2,503)	(2,468)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax									(156)	214	(35)
Accounting change - cumulative effect	(283)								(283)			$ (34)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Balance at December 31	(2,762)				(2,289)				(2,762)	(2,289)	(2,503)
Retained Earnings, adjusted balance at January 1,	(2,323)				(2,503)				(2,323)	(2,503)
Retained Earnings [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Accounting change - cumulative effect	283								283			$ 332	$ (787)
Retained Earnings, Balance at January 1,				$ 31,160				$ 33,513	31,160	33,513	31,613
Net Earnings/(Loss) Attributable to BMS									4,920	1,007	4,457
Cash dividends declared									(2,630)	(2,573)	(2,557)
Retained Earnings, adjusted balance at January 1,	31,492				32,726				31,492	32,726
Retained Earnings, Balance at December 31,	$ 34,065				$ 31,160				$ 34,065	$ 31,160	$ 33,513
Treasury Stock [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at January 1,				575				536	575	536	539
Stock repurchase program, Treasury Stock									5	44	4
Employee stock compensation plans, Shares									(4)	(5)	(7)
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at December 31,	576				575				576	575	536
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at January 1,				$ (19,249)				$ (16,779)	$ (19,249)	$ (16,779)	$ (16,559)
Stock repurchase program, Cost of Treasury Stock									(313)	(2,477)	(231)
Employee stock compensation plans, Cost									(12)	7	11
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at December 31,	$ (19,574)				$ (19,249)				(19,574)	(19,249)	(16,779)
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at January 1,				$ 106				$ 170	106	170	158
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest									27	27	50
Noncontrolling Interest, Period Increase (Decrease)										(59)
Distributions									(37)	(32)	(38)
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at December 31,	$ 96				$ 106				$ 96	106	$ 170
2017 ASR [Member]
Equity [Line Items]
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value										$ 2,000