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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Reimbursable Out of Pocket Expenses Policy [Policy Text Block]

Reimbursable Out-of-Pocket Expenses

CDD pays on behalf of its customers certain out-of-pocket costs for which the Company is reimbursed at cost, without mark-up or profit. Out-of-pocket costs paid by CDD are reflected in operating expenses, while the reimbursements received are reflected in revenues in the consolidated statements of operations.

Cost of Goods and Service [Policy Text Block]

Cost of Revenues

Cost of revenue includes direct labor and related benefit charges, other direct costs, shipping and handling fees, and an allocation of facility charges and information technology costs. Selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of administrative payroll and related benefit charges, advertising and promotional expenses, administrative travel and an allocation of facility charges and information technology costs. Cost of advertising is expensed as incurred.

Basis of Financial Statement Presentation

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings^® together with its subsidiaries (the Company), is a leading global life sciences company that is deeply integrated in guiding patient care, providing comprehensive clinical laboratory and end-to-end drug development services. The Company’s mission is to improve health and improve lives by delivering world-class diagnostic solutions, bringing innovative medicines to patients faster and using technology to provide better care. The Company serves a broad range of customers, including managed care organizations (MCOs), biopharmaceutical companies, governmental agencies, physicians and other healthcare providers (e.g. physician assistants and nurse practitioners, generally referred to herein as physicians), hospitals and health systems, employers, patients and consumers, contract research organizations (CROs) and independent clinical laboratories. During 2018, the Company sold its Covance Food Solutions (CFS) business, which provided food testing and integrity services, as well as its domestic and international forensic analysis businesses. During 2019, the Company's CDD segment completed the acquisition of Envigo's nonclinical contract research services business, expanding CDD's global nonclinical drug development capabilities with additional locations and resources. Additionally, the Company divested the Covance Research Products (CRP) business, which was part of the CDD segment, to Envigo. As part of this sale, CDD entered into a multi-year, renewable supply agreement with Envigo.

The Company reports its business in two segments, LabCorp Diagnostics (LCD) and Covance Drug Development (CDD). For further financial information about these segments, including information for each of the last three fiscal years regarding revenue, operating income, and other important information, see Note 21 Business Segment Information to the Consolidated Financial Statements. In 2019, LCD and CDD contributed 60% and 40%, respectively, of revenues to the Company, and in 2018 contributed 62% and 38%, respectively.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries for which it exercises control. Long-term investments in affiliated companies in which the Company exercises significant influence, but which it does not control, are accounted for using the equity method. Investments in which the Company does not exercise significant influence (generally, when the Company has an investment of less than 20% and no representation on the investee's board of directors) are accounted for at fair value or at cost minus impairment adjusted for observable price changes in orderly transactions for an identical or similar investment of the same issuer for those investments that do not have readily determinable fair values. All significant inter-company transactions and accounts have been eliminated. The Company does not have any variable interest entities or special purpose entities whose financial results are not included in the consolidated financial statements.

The financial statements of the Company's operating foreign subsidiaries are measured using the local currency as the functional currency. Assets and liabilities are translated at exchange rates as of the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at average monthly exchange rates prevailing during the year. Resulting translation adjustments are included in “Accumulated other comprehensive income.”

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts 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 reported periods. Significant estimates include implicit price concessions, revenue estimates, the allowances for doubtful accounts, deferred tax assets, fair values of acquired assets and assumed liabilities in business combinations, amortization lives for acquired intangible assets, and accruals for self-insurance reserves, litigation reserves and pensions. The allowance for doubtful accounts is determined based on historical collections trends, the aging of accounts, current economic conditions and regulatory changes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable.

The Company maintains cash and cash equivalents with various major financial institutions. The total cash and cash equivalent balances that exceeded the balances insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Commission, were approximately $335.0 and $423.0 at December 31, 2019, and 2018, respectively.

Substantially all of the Company’s accounts receivable are with companies in the healthcare or biopharmaceutical industry and individuals. However, concentrations of credit risk are mitigated due to the number of the Company’s customers as well as their dispersion across many different geographic regions.

Although LCD has receivables due from U.S. and state governmental agencies, the Company does not believe that such receivables represent a credit risk since the related healthcare programs are funded by U.S. and state governments, and payment is primarily dependent upon submitting appropriate documentation. Accounts receivable balances (gross) from Medicare and Medicaid were $81.4 and $88.8 at December 31, 2019, and 2018, respectively.

For the Company's operations in Ontario, Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (Ministry) determines who can establish a licensed community medical laboratory and caps the amount that each of these licensed laboratories can bill the government sponsored healthcare plan. The Ontario government-sponsored healthcare plan covers the cost of commercial laboratory testing performed by the licensed laboratories. The provincial government discounts the annual testing volumes based on certain utilization discounts and establishes an annual maximum it will pay for all community laboratory tests. The agreed-upon reimbursement rates are subject to Ministry review at the end of year and can be adjusted (at the government's discretion) based upon the actual volume and mix of test work performed by the licensed healthcare providers in the province during the year. The capitated accounts receivable balances from the Ontario government sponsored healthcare plan were CAD 3.2 and CAD 0.5 at December 31, 2019, and 2018, respectively.

The portion of the Company's accounts receivable due from patients comprises the largest portion of credit risk. At December 31, 2019, and 2018, receivables due from patients represented approximately 21.1% and 21.5% of the Company's consolidated gross accounts receivable, respectively. The Company applies assumptions and judgments including historical collection experience for assessing collectability and determining allowances for doubtful accounts for accounts receivable from patients.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net earnings attributable to Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net earnings including the impact of dilutive adjustments by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus potentially dilutive shares, as if they had been issued at the earlier of the date of issuance or the beginning of the period presented. Potentially dilutive common shares result primarily from the Company’s outstanding stock options, restricted stock awards, performance share awards, and shares issuable upon conversion of zero-coupon subordinated notes.

The following represents a reconciliation of basic earnings per share to diluted earnings per share:



	2019					2018					2017
	Income		Shares	Per Share Amount		Income		Shares	Per Share Amount		Income		Shares	Per Share Amount
Basic earnings per share	$	823.8	97.9	$	8.42	$	883.7	101.4	$	8.71	$	1,227.1	102.4	$	11.99
Stock options and stock awards	—		0.7			—		1.2			—		1.4
Effect of convertible debt, net of tax	—		—			—		—			—		0.1
Diluted earnings per share	$	823.8	98.6	$	8.35	$	883.7	102.6	$	8.61	$	1,227.1	103.9	$	11.81

The following table summarizes the potential common shares not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because their impact would have been antidilutive:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2019	2018	2017
Stock options	0.2	0.1	0.1

Stock Compensation Plans

The Company measures stock compensation cost for all equity awards at fair value on the date of grant and recognizes compensation expense over the service period for awards expected to vest. The fair value of restricted stock units is determined based on the number of shares granted and the quoted price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. The grant date fair value of performance awards is based on a Monte Carlo simulated fair value for the relative (as compared to the peer companies) total shareholder return component of the performance awards. Such value is recognized as expense over the service period, net of estimated forfeitures and the Company's determination of whether it is probable that the performance targets will be achieved. At the end of each reporting period, the Company reassesses the probability of achieving performance targets. The estimation of equity awards that will ultimately vest requires judgment and the Company considers many factors when estimating expected forfeitures,

including types of awards, employee class, and historical experience. Forfeitures are recognized as a reduction of compensation expense in earnings in the period in which they occur.

See Note 15 Stock Compensation Plans for assumptions used in calculating compensation expense for the Company’s stock compensation plans.

Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist of highly liquid instruments, such as commercial paper, time deposits, and other money market instruments, substantially all of which have maturities when purchased of three months or less.

Inventories

Inventory

Inventories, consisting primarily of purchased laboratory and customer supplies and finished goods, are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or net realizable value. Supplies accounted for $228.3 and $200.1 and finished goods accounted for $16.4 and $37.2 of total inventory at December 31, 2019, and 2018, respectively.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation and amortization expense is computed on all classes of assets based on their estimated useful lives, as indicated below, using the straight-line method.



	Years
Buildings and building improvements	10	-	40
Machinery and equipment	3	-	10
Furniture and fixtures	5	-	10
Software	3	-	10

Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or the term of the related leases. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are charged to operations as incurred. Retirements, sales and other disposals of assets are recorded by removing the cost and accumulated depreciation from the related accounts with any resulting gain or loss reflected in the consolidated statements of operations.

Capitalized Software Costs

The Company capitalizes purchased software which is ready for service and capitalizes software development costs incurred on significant projects starting from the time that the preliminary project stage is completed and the Company commits to funding a project until the project is substantially complete and the software is ready for its intended use. Capitalized costs include direct material and service costs and payroll and payroll-related costs. Research and development (R&D) costs and other computer software maintenance costs related to software development are expensed as incurred. Capitalized software costs are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the underlying system ranging from three to ten years, generally five years. Amortization begins once the underlying system is substantially complete and ready for its intended use.

Long-Lived Assets

The Company assesses goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles for impairment at least annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable.

Management performed its annual goodwill and intangible asset impairment testing as of the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2019. The Company elected to perform the qualitative assessment for goodwill and intangible assets for the domestic LCD reporting units, a quantitative assessment for the CDD reporting units and a quantitative assessment for the Canadian reporting unit and its indefinite-lived assets consisting of acquired Canadian licenses.

In the qualitative assessment, the Company considered relevant events and circumstances for each reporting unit, including (i) current year results, ii) financial performance versus management’s annual and five-year strategic plans, iii) changes in the reporting unit carrying value since prior year, (iv) industry and market conditions in which the reporting unit operates, (v) macroeconomic conditions, including discount rate changes, and (vi) changes in products or services offered by the reporting unit. If applicable, performance in recent years was compared to forecasts included in prior valuations. Based on the results of the qualitative assessment, the Company concluded that it was not more likely than not that the carrying values of the goodwill and intangible assets were greater than their fair values, and that further quantitative testing was not necessary.

In 2019, the Company utilized a combination of income and market approaches to determine the fair value of the CDD reporting units and an income approach to determine the fair value of the Canadian reporting unit and its indefinite-lived assets consisting of acquired Canadian licenses. Based upon the results of the quantitative assessments, the Company concluded that the fair values of the goodwill and intangible assets, including the indefinite-lived Canadian licenses, was greater than the carrying value.

The Company will continue to monitor the financial performance of and assumptions for one of the CDD reporting units for which a combination of income and market approaches was performed in 2019 and where the fair value exceeded carrying value by approximately 10%. Goodwill for this reporting unit as of December 31, 2019, was $2.2 billion. Management's impairment analysis for this reporting unit utilized significant judgments and assumptions related to the market comparable method analysis, such as selected market multiples, and related to cash flow projections, such as revenue and terminal growth rates, projected operating margin,and the discount rate. A significant increase in the discount rate, decrease in the revenue and terminal growth rate, or decreased operating margin, or substantial reductions in end markets and volume assumptions could have a negative impact on the estimated fair value of this reporting unit. A future impairment charge for goodwill or intangible assets could have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial position and results of operations. Management notes that a 1% change in the discount rate would reduce the headroom to approximately 1%.

Long-lived assets, other than goodwill and indefinite-lived assets, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is determined by the Company at the level for which there are identifiable cash flows by comparison of the carrying amount of the assets to future undiscounted net cash flows before interest expense and income taxes expected to be generated by the assets. Impairment, if any, is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets (based on market prices in an active market or on discounted cash flows). Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected periods to be benefited, as set forth in the table below, such as legal life for patents and technology and contractual lives for non-compete agreements.



	Years
Customer relationships	10	-	36
Patents, licenses and technology	3	-	15
Non-compete agreements	3		5
Trade names	1	-	15

Debt Issuance Costs

The costs related to the issuance of debt are capitalized, netted against the related debt for presentation purposes and amortized to interest expense over the terms of the related debt.

Professional Liability

The Company is self-insured (up to certain limits) for professional liability claims arising in the normal course of business, generally related to the testing and reporting of laboratory test results. The Company estimates a liability that represents the ultimate exposure for aggregate losses below those limits. The liability is based on assumptions and factors for known and incurred but not reported claims, including the frequency and payment trends of historical claims.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes utilizing the asset and liability method. Under this method deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and for tax loss carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company does not recognize a tax benefit unless the Company concludes that it is more likely than not that the benefit will be sustained on audit by the taxing authority based solely on the technical merits of the associated tax position. If the recognition threshold is met, the Company recognizes a tax benefit measured at the largest amount of the tax benefit that the Company believes is greater than 50% likely to be realized. The Company records interest and penalties in income tax expense.

Derivative Financial Instruments

Interest rate swap agreements, which have been used by the Company from time to time in the management of interest rate exposure, are accounted for at fair value.

The Company’s zero-coupon subordinated notes contained two features that were considered to be embedded derivative instruments under authoritative guidance in connection with accounting for derivative instruments and hedging activities. On

December 19, 2019, the Company redeemed any remaining outstanding zero-coupon notes that did not convert. The Company believes these embedded derivatives had no fair value at December 31, 2018.

Cross currency swap agreements, which have been used by the Company to hedge exposure of its net investment in a foreign subsidiary denominated in non-U.S. currency, are accounted for at fair value.

See Note 19 Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities for the Company’s objectives in using derivative instruments and the effect of derivative instruments and related hedged items on the Company’s financial position, financial performance and cash flows.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair value measurements for financial assets and liabilities are determined based on the assumptions that a market participant would use in pricing an asset or liability. A three-tiered fair value hierarchy draws distinctions between market participant assumptions based on (i) observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets (Level 1), (ii) inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly (Level 2) and (iii) unobservable inputs that require the Company to use present value and other valuation techniques in the determination of fair value (Level 3).

Research and Development

The Company expenses R&D costs as incurred.

Foreign Currency Disclosure [Text Block]

Foreign Currencies

For subsidiaries outside of the U.S. that operate in a local currency environment, income and expense items are translated to U.S. dollars at the monthly average rates of exchange prevailing during the period, assets and liabilities are translated at period-end exchange rates and equity accounts are translated at historical exchange rates. Translation adjustments are accumulated in a separate component of shareholders’ equity in the consolidated balance sheets and are included in the determination of comprehensive income in the consolidated statements of comprehensive earnings and consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity. Transaction gains and losses are included in the determination of net income in the consolidated statements of operations.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

New Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2016, the FASB issued a new accounting standard intended to provide financial statement users with more decision-useful information about expected credit losses and other commitments to extend credit held by the reporting entity. The standard replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in current Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) with one that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The update is effective on January 1, 2020. The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued a new accounting standard to remove, modify, and add to the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements. The standard is effective on January 1, 2020. The Company does not expect the adoption of this new standard to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued a new accounting standard to remove, modify, and add to the disclosure requirements on defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans. The standard is effective on January 1, 2021, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this new standard will have on the consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued a new accounting standard to align the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. The standard is effective on January 1, 2020. The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In December 2019, the FASB issued a new accounting standard to simplify accounting for income taxes and remove, modify, and add to the disclosure requirements of income taxes. The standard is effective January 1, 2021, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this new standard will have on the consolidated financial statements.

In January 2020, the FASB issued a new accounting standard to clarify the interaction of the accounting for equity securities and investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting and the accounting for certain forward contracts and purchased options. This standard is effective January 1, 2021. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this new standard will have on the consolidated financial statements.

Reclassifications [Text Block]

Reclassifications and Revisions

In conjunction with the adoption of the new lease standard, the Company reclassified the capital lease asset balance of $44.4 at December 31, 2018 from Property, plant and equipment, net to Other assets.