General and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Business Description and Basis of Presentation [Text Block]

Basis of Presentation and Preparation

ICU Medical, Inc. ("ICU" or "we"), a Delaware corporation, operates in one business segment engaged in the development, manufacturing and sale of innovative medical devices used in vascular therapy, and critical care applications. We are one of the world's leading pure-play infusion therapy companies with a wide-ranging product portfolio that includes IV solutions, IV smart pumps with pain management and safety software technology, dedicated and non-dedicated IV sets and needlefree connectors designed to help meet clinical, safety and workflow goals. We sell the majority of our products through our direct sales force and through independent distributors throughout the U. S. and internationally. Additionally, we sell our products on an original equipment manufacturer basis to other medical device manufacturers. The manufacturing for all product groups occurs in Salt Lake City, Utah, Austin, Texas, Mexico and Costa Rica.

All subsidiaries are wholly owned and are included in the consolidated financial statements.  All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Results of operations of companies purchased are included from the dates of acquisition.

The consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, which are normal and recurring in nature, necessary for fair financial statement presentation. These consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP").

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Preparing financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates. 

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash equivalents are short-term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and have original maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase as cash equivalents.

Receivables, Trade and Other Accounts Receivable, Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Accounts receivable are stated at net realizable value.  An allowance is provided for estimated collection losses based on an assessment of various factors.  We consider prior payment trends, the age of the accounts receivable balances, financial status and other factors to estimate the cash which ultimately will be received.  Such amounts cannot be known with certainty at the financial statement date.  We regularly review individual past due balances for collectability.

Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value with cost determined using the first-in, first-out method.

Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

All property, plant and equipment are stated at cost.  We use the straight-line method for depreciating property, plant and equipment over their estimated useful lives.  Estimated useful lives are:

Buildings	15 - 30 years
Building improvements	15 - 30 years
Machinery, equipment and molds	2 - 15 years
Furniture, fixtures and office equipment	2 - 5 years
Computer equipment and software	3 - 5 years
Instruments placed with customers	3 - 10 years

We capitalize expenditures that materially increase the life of the related assets; maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred.  The costs and related accumulated depreciation applicable to property, plant and equipment sold or retired are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is reflected in the statements of operations at the time of disposal. Depreciation expense was $59.3 million, $58.1 million and $51.6 million in the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Goodwill, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Goodwill

We test goodwill for impairment on an annual basis in the month of November.  If the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds the implied estimated fair value, an impairment charge to current operations is recorded to reduce the carrying value to the implied estimated fair value.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Intangible assets, carried at cost less accumulated amortization and amortized on a straight-lined basis

Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Long-Lived Assets

We periodically evaluate the recoverability of long-lived assets whenever events and changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be fully recoverable. When indicators of impairment are present, the carrying values of the assets are evaluated in relation to the operating performance and future undiscounted cash flows of the underlying business. The net book value of the underlying asset is adjusted to fair value if the sum of the expected discounted cash flows is less than book value. Fair values are based on estimates of market prices and assumptions concerning the amount and timing of estimated future cash flows and discount rates, reflecting varying degrees of perceived risk.

Investment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Investment Securities

Short-term investments, exclusive of cash equivalents, are marketable securities intended to be sold within one year and may include trading securities, available-for-sale securities, and held-to-maturity securities (if maturing within one year at the time of acquisition). Long-term investments are marketable securities intended to be sold after one year and may include trading securities, available-for-sale securities, and held-to-maturity securities.

Our investment securities are considered available-for-sale and are “investment grade” and carried at fair value. Our investments currently consist of corporate bonds. Available-for-sale securities are recorded at fair value, and unrealized holding gains and losses are recorded, net of tax, as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities are charged against net earnings when a decline in fair value is determined to be other than temporary. Our management reviews several factors to determine whether a loss is other than temporary, such as the length and extent of the fair value decline, the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer, and for equity investments, our intent and ability to hold the security for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value. For debt securities, management also evaluates whether we have the intent to sell or will likely be required to sell before its anticipated recovery. Realized gains and losses are accounted for on the specific identification method. There have been no realized gains or losses on the disposal of investments. Our investments mature in 2020. All short-term investment securities are all callable within one year.

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes

Deferred taxes are determined based on the differences between the financial statements and the tax bases using rates as enacted in the laws. A valuation allowance is established if it is “more likely than not” that all or a portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

We recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the tax provision. We recognize liabilities for uncertain tax positions when it is more likely than not that a tax position will not be sustained upon examination and settlement with various taxing authorities. Liabilities for uncertain tax positions are measured based upon the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. We have not recorded any material interest or penalties during any of the years presented.

Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block]

Foreign Currency

Generally, the functional currency of our international subsidiaries is the local currency. Generally, we translate the financial statements of these subsidiaries to U.S. dollars at the exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet date and revenues and expenses are translated at the average monthly exchange rates during the year. Certain of our international subsidiaries consolidate first with another subsidiary that utilizes a functional currency other than U.S. dollars.  In those cases, we follow a step by step translation process utilizing the same sequence as the consolidation process.  Translation adjustments are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), a separate component of stockholders' equity on our consolidated balance sheets and the effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents are reflected on our consolidated statements of cash flows. Gains and losses for transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the entity are included in our statements of operations in other income (expense), net. Foreign currency transaction (gains) losses, net were $(0.7) million in 2019, $7.9 million in 2018 and $1.8 million in 2017.

Revenue [Policy Text Block]

Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenues when we transfer control of promised goods to our customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which we expect to be entitled in exchange for those goods. We offer certain volume-based rebates to our distribution customers, which we consider variable consideration when calculating the transaction price. We also provide chargebacks to distributors that sell to end-customers at prices determined under a contract between us and the end-customer.

Chargebacks are the difference between prices we charge our distribution customers and contracted prices we have with the end customer which are processed as credits to our distribution customers. In estimating the most likely rebate and chargeback amounts for use in determining the transaction price, we use information available at the time and our historical experience. We also warrant products against defects and have a policy permitting the return of defective products, for which we accrue and expense at the time of sale using information available and our historical experience. Our revenues are recorded at the net sales price, which includes an estimate for variable consideration related to rebates, chargebacks and product returns.

The vast majority of our sales of Infusion Consumables, Infusion Systems, IV Solutions and Critical Care products are sold on a standalone basis and control of these products transfers to the customer upon shipment.

Our software license renewals are considered to be transferred to a customer at a point in time at the start of each renewal period, therefore revenue is recognized at that time.    

Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables

In certain circumstances, we enter into arrangements in which we provide multiple deliverables to our customers. These bundled arrangements typically consist of the sale of infusion systems equipment, along with annual software licenses and related software implementation services, as well as infusion consumables, IV solutions and extended warranties.

Our most significant judgments related to these arrangements are (i) identifying the various performance obligations and (ii) estimating the relative standalone selling price of each performance obligation, typically using a directly observable method or calculated on a cost plus margin basis method. Revenue related to the bundled equipment, software and software implementation services are typically combined into a single performance obligation and recognized upon implementation. As annual software licenses are renewed, we recognize revenue for the license at a point in time, at the start of each annual renewal period. The transaction price allocated to the extended service-type warranty is recognized as revenue over the period the warranty service is provided. Consumables and solutions are separate performance obligations, recognized at a point in time.

Shipping and Handling Cost, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Shipping Costs

Costs to ship finished goods to our customers are included in cost of goods sold on the consolidated statements of operations.

Advertising Cost [Policy Text Block]

Advertising Expenses

Advertising expenses are expensed as incurred and reflected in selling, general and administrative expenses in our consolidated statements of operations and were $0.1 million in 2019, $0.6 million in 2018 and $0.2 million in 2017.

Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Post-retirement and Post-employment Benefits

We sponsor a Section 401(k) retirement plan ("plan") for employees.  Our contributions to our 401(k) plan were approximately $11.4 million in 2019, $11.4 million in 2018 and $10.3 million in 2017. As a result of the Hospira Infusion Systems ("HIS") acquisition, we assumed certain post-retirement and post-employment obligations related to employees located in certain international countries. These obligations are immaterial to our financial statements taken as a whole.

Research and Development Expense, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Research and Development

The majority of our research and development costs are expensed as incurred. In certain circumstances when an asset will have an alternative future use we capitalize the costs related to those assets. Research and development costs include salaries and related benefits, consulting fees, production supplies, samples, travel costs, utilities and other miscellaneous administrative costs.

Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Net Income Per Share

Net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus dilutive securities. Dilutive securities include outstanding common stock options and unvested restricted stock units, less the number of shares that could have been purchased with the proceeds from the exercise of the options, using the treasury stock method. Options that are anti-dilutive, where their exercise price exceeds the average market price of the common stock are not included in the treasury stock method calculation.