BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS (Notes)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2020

BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation and Recently Issued Accounting Standards [Text Block]

Basis of Consolidation

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company prepared these unaudited consolidated financial statements following the requirements of the SEC and U.S. GAAP for interim reporting. Under those rules, certain footnotes and other financial information that are normally required for annual financial statements can be condensed or omitted. The Company is responsible for the consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which include all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, and cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. BMS's consolidated financial statements include the assets, liabilities, operating results and cash flows of Celgene from the date of acquisition on November 20, 2019. These financial statements and the related notes should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019 included in the 2019 Form 10-K. Refer to the Summary of Abbreviated Terms at the end of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for terms used throughout the document.

Business Segment Information

BMS operates in a single segment engaged in the discovery, development, licensing, manufacturing, marketing, distribution and sale of innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. A global research and development organization and supply chain organization are responsible for the discovery, development, manufacturing and supply of products. Regional commercial organizations market, distribute and sell the products. The business is also supported by global corporate staff functions. Consistent with BMS's operational structure, the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), as the chief operating decision maker, manages and allocates resources at the global corporate level. Managing and allocating resources at the global corporate level enables the CEO to assess both the overall level of resources available and how to best deploy these resources across functions, therapeutic areas, regional commercial organizations and research and development projects in line with our overarching long-term corporate-wide strategic goals, rather than on a product or franchise basis. The determination of a single segment is consistent with the financial information regularly reviewed by the CEO for purposes of evaluating performance, allocating resources, setting incentive compensation targets, and planning and forecasting future periods. For further information on product and regional revenue, see “—Note 2. Revenue.”

Use of Estimates and Judgments

Revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities can vary during each quarter of the year. Accordingly, the results and trends in these unaudited consolidated financial statements may not be indicative of full year operating results. The preparation of financial statements requires the use of management estimates, judgments and assumptions. The most significant assumptions are estimates used in determining accounting for business combinations; impairments of intangible assets; sales rebate and return accruals; legal contingencies; and income taxes. Actual results may differ from estimates.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications were made to conform the prior period interim consolidated financial statements to the current period presentation.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

Financial Instruments - Measurement of Credit Losses

In June 2016, the FASB issued amended guidance for the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments. Entities will be required to use a forward-looking estimated loss model. Available-for-sale debt security credit losses will be recognized as allowances rather than a reduction in amortized cost. BMS adopted the amended guidance on a modified retrospective approach on January 1, 2020. The amended guidance did not impact BMS’s results of operations.