Commitments, Contingent Liabilities and Litigation	3 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments, Contingent Liabilities and Litigation	Commitments, Contingent Liabilities and Litigation Commitments Generic Sourcing Venture With CVS Health Corporation In July 2014, we established Red Oak Sourcing, LLC ("Red Oak Sourcing"), a U.S.-based generic pharmaceutical sourcing venture with CVS Health Corporation (“CVS Health”) with an initial term of 10 years. Both companies have contributed sourcing and supply chain expertise to the 50/50 venture and have committed to source generic pharmaceuticals through arrangements negotiated by the venture. Red Oak Sourcing negotiates generic pharmaceutical supply contracts on behalf of both companies. We are required to pay 39 quarterly payments of $25.6 million to CVS Health which commenced in October 2014. Due to the achievement of a milestone, the quarterly payment to CVS Health increased by $10 million beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. In addition, if an additional milestone is achieved, the quarterly payment will increase in fiscal 2017 by a further $10 million resulting in a maximum quarterly payment of $45.6 million if all milestones are met. Cordis On March 1, 2015, we entered into a binding offer letter with Ethicon, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, to purchase its Cordis business for a purchase price of $1.9 billion in cash, subject to certain adjustments. On May 27, 2015, Ethicon accepted the offer. As described in Note 2, the acquisition was completed on October 2, 2015 for $1.9 billion. Legal Proceedings We become involved from time to time in disputes, litigation, and regulatory matters incidental to our business. We may be named from time to time in qui tam actions, which are initiated by private third parties purporting to act on behalf of federal or state governments, that allege that false claims have been submitted or have been caused to be submitted for payment by the government. After a private party has filed a qui tam action, the government must investigate the private party's claim and determine whether to intervene in and take control over the litigation. These actions may remain under seal while the government makes this determination. If the government declines to intervene, the private party may nonetheless continue to pursue the litigation on his or her own on behalf of the government. From time to time, we receive subpoenas or requests for information from various government agencies relating to our business or to the business of a customer, supplier or other industry participant. Most of these matters are resolved without incident; however, such subpoenas or requests can lead to the assertion of claims, or the commencement of legal proceedings, against us. In addition, we occasionally may suspect that products we manufacture, market or distribute do not meet product specifications, published standards or regulatory requirements. In such circumstances, we investigate and take appropriate corrective action. Such actions can lead to product recalls, costs to repair or replace affected products, temporary interruptions in product sales, and action by regulators. We accrue for contingencies related to disputes, litigation, and regulatory matters if it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Because these matters are inherently unpredictable and unfavorable developments or resolutions can occur, assessing contingencies is highly subjective and requires judgments about future events. We regularly review contingencies to determine whether our accruals and related disclosures are adequate. The amount of ultimate loss may differ from these estimates. With respect to the unresolved matters described below, we are unable to estimate a range of reasonably possible loss for matters for which there is no accrual, or additional loss for matters for which we have recorded an accrual, since damages or fines have not been specified or the proceedings are at stages where significant uncertainty exists as to legal or factual issues and as to whether such matters will proceed to trial. We do not believe, based on currently available information, that the outcomes of these matters will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows, though the outcome of one or more of these matters could be material to our results of operations for a particular period. We recognize income from the favorable outcome of litigation when we receive the associated cash or assets. We recognize estimated loss contingencies for litigation and regulatory matters and income from favorable resolution of litigation in litigation (recoveries)/charges, net in our condensed consolidated statements of earnings. DEA Investigation and Related Matters In February 2012, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (the "DEA") issued an order to show cause and immediate suspension of our Lakeland, Florida distribution center's registration to distribute controlled substances, asserting that we failed to maintain required controls against the diversion of controlled substances. In May 2012, we entered into a settlement agreement with the DEA that resolved the administrative aspects of the DEA's action but did not resolve potential liability for civil fines in Florida or elsewhere for the conduct covered by the settlement agreement. In that regard, we are continuing to engage in discussions with several offices of the U.S. Department of Justice (the "DOJ"), including discussions regarding a possible settlement. We accrued litigation charges of $41 million for this matter during fiscal 2015, including $27 million in the three months ended September 30, 2014. Our total accrual for this matter at both September 30, 2015 and June 30, 2015 is $41 million, which is included in other accrued liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. State of West Virginia vs. Cardinal Health, Inc. In June 2012, the West Virginia Attorney General filed complaints, which have been amended, against 13 pharmaceutical wholesale distributors, including us and Harvard Drug, which we acquired on July 2, 2015, as described in Note 2. The complaints, which were filed in the Circuit Court of Boone County, West Virginia, allege, among other things, that the distributors failed to maintain effective controls to guard against diversion of controlled substances in West Virginia, failed to report suspicious orders of controlled substances in accordance with the West Virginia Uniform Controlled Substances Act, and were negligent in distributing controlled substances to pharmacies that serve individuals who abuse controlled substances. In addition to injunctive and other equitable relief, the complaints seek monetary damages and the creation of a court-supervised fund, to be financed by the defendants in these actions, for a medical monitoring program focused on prescription drug abuse. We are vigorously defending ourselves in this matter. Qui Tam Action As previously disclosed, following an investigation, in July 2015, the DOJ declined to intervene as to us in a qui tam action naming our Cardinal Health at Home division as a defendant, and the private third-party plaintiff voluntarily dismissed us from the action. We had been named as a defendent in an amended qui tam complaint that was filed in November 2014 by the private third-party plaintiff in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts against several manufacturers and distributors of ostomy and continence care products.

Commitments, Contingent Liabilities and Litigation

Commitments

Generic Sourcing Venture With CVS Health Corporation

In July 2014, we established Red Oak Sourcing, LLC ("Red Oak Sourcing"), a U.S.-based generic pharmaceutical sourcing venture with CVS Health Corporation (“CVS Health”) with an initial term of 10 years. Both companies have contributed sourcing and supply chain expertise to the 50/50 venture and have committed to source generic pharmaceuticals through arrangements negotiated by the venture. Red Oak Sourcing negotiates generic pharmaceutical supply contracts on behalf of both companies. We are required to pay 39 quarterly payments of $25.6 million to CVS Health which commenced in October 2014. Due to the achievement of a milestone, the quarterly payment to CVS Health increased by $10 million beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. In addition, if an additional milestone is achieved, the quarterly payment will increase in fiscal 2017 by a further $10 million resulting in a maximum quarterly payment of $45.6 million if all milestones are met.

Cordis

On March 1, 2015, we entered into a binding offer letter with Ethicon, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, to purchase its Cordis business for a purchase price of $1.9 billion in cash, subject to certain adjustments. On May 27, 2015, Ethicon accepted the offer. As described in Note 2, the acquisition was completed on October 2, 2015 for $1.9 billion.

Legal Proceedings

We become involved from time to time in disputes, litigation, and regulatory matters incidental to our business.

We may be named from time to time in qui tam actions, which are initiated by private third parties purporting to act on behalf of federal or state governments, that allege that false claims have been submitted or have been caused to be submitted for payment by the government. After a private party has filed a qui tam action, the government must investigate the private party's claim and determine whether to intervene in and take control over the litigation. These actions may remain under seal while the government makes this determination. If the government declines to intervene, the private party may nonetheless continue to pursue the litigation on his or her own on behalf of the government.

From time to time, we receive subpoenas or requests for information from various government agencies relating to our business or to the business of a customer, supplier or other industry participant. Most of these matters are resolved without incident; however, such subpoenas or requests can lead to the assertion of claims, or the commencement of legal proceedings, against us.

In addition, we occasionally may suspect that products we manufacture, market or distribute do not meet product specifications, published standards or regulatory requirements. In such circumstances, we investigate and take appropriate corrective action. Such actions can lead to product recalls, costs to repair or replace affected products, temporary interruptions in product sales, and action by regulators.

We accrue for contingencies related to disputes, litigation, and regulatory matters if it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Because these matters are inherently unpredictable and unfavorable developments or resolutions can occur, assessing contingencies is highly subjective and requires judgments about future events. We regularly review contingencies to determine whether our accruals and related disclosures are adequate. The amount of ultimate loss may differ from these estimates.

With respect to the unresolved matters described below, we are unable to estimate a range of reasonably possible loss for matters for which there is no accrual, or additional loss for matters for which we have recorded an accrual, since damages or fines have not been specified or the proceedings are at stages where significant uncertainty exists as to legal or factual issues and as to whether such matters will proceed to trial. We do not believe, based on currently available information, that the outcomes of these matters will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows, though the outcome of one or more of these matters could be material to our results of operations for a particular period.

We recognize income from the favorable outcome of litigation when we receive the associated cash or assets.

We recognize estimated loss contingencies for litigation and regulatory matters and income from favorable resolution of litigation in litigation (recoveries)/charges, net in our condensed consolidated statements of earnings.

DEA Investigation and Related Matters

In February 2012, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (the "DEA") issued an order to show cause and immediate suspension of our Lakeland, Florida distribution center's registration to distribute controlled substances, asserting that we failed to maintain required controls against the diversion of controlled substances. In May 2012, we entered into a settlement agreement with the DEA that resolved the administrative aspects of the DEA's action but did not resolve potential liability for civil fines in Florida or elsewhere for the conduct covered by the settlement agreement. In that regard, we are continuing to engage in discussions with several offices of the U.S. Department of Justice (the "DOJ"), including discussions regarding a possible settlement. We accrued litigation charges of $41 million for this matter during fiscal 2015, including $27 million in the three months ended September 30, 2014. Our total accrual for this matter at both September 30, 2015 and June 30, 2015 is $41 million, which is included in other accrued liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

State of West Virginia vs. Cardinal Health, Inc.

In June 2012, the West Virginia Attorney General filed complaints, which have been amended, against 13 pharmaceutical wholesale distributors, including us and Harvard Drug, which we acquired on July 2, 2015, as described in Note 2. The complaints, which were filed in the Circuit Court of Boone County, West Virginia, allege, among other things, that the distributors failed to maintain effective controls to guard against diversion of controlled substances in West Virginia, failed to report suspicious orders of controlled substances in accordance with the West Virginia Uniform Controlled Substances Act, and were negligent in distributing controlled substances to pharmacies that serve individuals who abuse controlled substances. In addition to injunctive and other equitable relief, the complaints seek monetary damages and the creation of a court-supervised fund, to be financed by the defendants in these actions, for a medical monitoring program focused on prescription drug abuse. We are vigorously defending ourselves in this matter.

Qui Tam Action

As previously disclosed, following an investigation, in July 2015, the DOJ declined to intervene as to us in a qui tam action naming our Cardinal Health at Home division as a defendant, and the private third-party plaintiff voluntarily dismissed us from the action. We had been named as a defendent in an amended qui tam complaint that was filed in November 2014 by the private third-party plaintiff in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts against several manufacturers and distributors of ostomy and continence care products.