EQUITY (Changes in Equity) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2019	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Jan. 01, 2020
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared		$ 0.45	$ 0.41
Stock Repurchase Program, Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount		$ 5,900.0		$ 1,000.0
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount		5,000.0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common Stock, Value, Issued, Balance at Beginning of Period		292.0
Common Stock, Value, Issued, Balance at End of Period		292.0
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at Beginning of Period		43,709.0
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at End of Period		43,254.0
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Balance at Beginning of Period		(1,520.0)
Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss)		(29.0)	$ 118.0
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Balance at End of Period		(1,549.0)
Retained Earnings, Balance at Beginning of Period		34,474.0
Net Earnings Attributable to BMS		(775.0)	1,710.0
Retained Earnings, Balance at End of Period		$ 32,671.0
Stock repurchase program, Shares		1.4
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at Beginning of Period		$ (25,357.0)
Stock Repurchased During Period, Value		(81.0)
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at End of Period		(24,757.0)
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at Beginning of Period		100.0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		(9.0)	$ (5.0)
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at End of Period		$ 66.0
Common Stock [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common Stock, Shares Issued, Balance at Beginning of Period	2,208.0	2,923.0	2,208.0
Common Stock, Shares Issued, Balance at End of Period		2,923.0	2,208.0
Common Stock, Value, Issued, Balance at Beginning of Period	$ 221.0	$ 292.0	$ 221.0
Common Stock, Value, Issued, Balance at End of Period		292.0	221.0
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	2,081.0	43,709.0	2,081.0
Stockholders' Equity, Other		(455.0)	22.0
Capital in Excess of Par Value of Stock, Balance at End of Period		43,254.0	2,103.0
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Balance at Beginning of Period	(2,762.0)	(1,520.0)	(2,762.0)
Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss)		(29.0)	118.0
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Balance at End of Period		(1,549.0)	(2,644.0)
Retained Earnings [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Retained Earnings, Balance at Beginning of Period	34,065.0	34,474.0	34,065.0
Net Earnings Attributable to BMS		(775.0)	1,710.0
Cash dividends declared		(1,028.0)	(671.0)
Retained Earnings, Balance at End of Period	$ 34,070.0	$ 32,671.0	$ 35,109.0
Treasury Stock [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at Beginning of Period	576.0	672.0	576.0
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Shares Withheld for Tax Withholding Obligation		(13.0)	(4.0)
Treasury Stock, Shares, Balance at End of Period		660.0	572.0
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at Beginning of Period	$ (19,574.0)	$ (25,357.0)	$ (19,574.0)
Employee stock compensation plans, Cost		681.0	3.0
Cost of Treasury Stock, Balance at End of Period		(24,757.0)	(19,571.0)
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at Beginning of Period	96.0	100.0	96.0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		9.0	5.0
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders		(43.0)	(2.0)
Noncontrolling interest, Balance at End of Period		$ 66.0	$ 99.0
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cumulative effect of an accounting change on retained earnings	$ 5.0