{"id":8806,"date":"2015-04-10T17:10:00","date_gmt":"2015-04-10T21:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/journals.law.harvard.edu\/crcl\/?p=8806"},"modified":"2016-11-16T19:19:41","modified_gmt":"2016-11-17T00:19:41","slug":"supreme-court-threatens-medicaid-reimbursement-accountability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/journals.law.harvard.edu\/crcl\/supreme-court-threatens-medicaid-reimbursement-accountability\/","title":{"rendered":"Supreme Court Threatens Medicaid Reimbursement Accountability"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the country focuses on the upcoming King v. Burwell <\/em>decision, the Supreme Court recently ruled on a barely noticed, yet critical, healthcare case: Armstrong v. Exceptional Child Center<\/em>. The Court\u2019s decision in Armstrong <\/em>will likely have significant, negative consequences for the continued pursuit of universal healthcare.<\/p>\n

In Armstrong<\/em>, an Idaho healthcare provider sued the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare arguing that the state department was reimbursing for Medicaid procedures at insufficient levels. The department claimed they were unable to raise reimbursement rates because the Idaho legislature had not allocated the funds.[1]<\/a> Medicaid, a government program that provides health insurance for low-income Americans, requires state governments to pay healthcare providers an amount \u201csufficient to enlist enough providers so that care\u201d is available (this is known as the Equal Access Provision).[2]<\/a> Prior to Armstrong<\/em>, Medicaid providers could bring a lawsuit against their state if they believed the state was \u201cpaying them too little\u201d under the Medicaid Act.[3]<\/a><\/p>\n

The Supreme Court ruled against this practice last week with its ruling that neither the Constitution\u2019s Supremacy Clause nor the Medicaid Act allow private actors to bring a cause of action against states when they provide insufficient reimbursement rates. This decision reversed lower court rulings.[4]<\/a> The Court did not believe that federal courts were properly situated\u00a0to set Medicaid rates.[4]<\/a>\u00a0<\/sup>Rather, they ruled that the Department of Health and Human Services should be the only entity that can challenge insufficient reimbursements by states.[4]<\/a>\u00a0<\/sup>This decision will likely have damaging practical effects.<\/p>\n

First, DHHS\u2019 only option against a state that does not provide sufficient reimbursement rates is to withhold all Medicaid funding from that state. This is a severe option. To cut off all<\/em> Medicaid funds because some<\/em> reimbursement rates are insufficient would only hurt Medicaid recipients even further. And because it is a severe option that DHHS will likely shy away from, states view DHHS action\u00a0as a paper tiger.[5]<\/a> With private rights of action, federal courts, unlike DHHS, could enjoin states to set the proper rates. This was a more efficient and effective process.<\/p>\n

Second, DHHS being the sole overseer will stifle accountability. As past DHHS leadership told the Court, the Department lacks the resources to challenge all insufficient state reimbursement rates.[6]<\/a> In the past, DHHS has relied on private providers to bring cases.[7]<\/a> Without private actors bringing suits, it is likely many insufficient reimbursement rates will go unchallenged, and states will not be accountable to the Equal Access Provision.<\/p>\n

Third, if insufficient rates go unchallenged, Medicaid recipients will not have healthcare providers. Insufficient reimbursement rates deter healthcare providers from providing care to Medicaid recipients.[8]<\/a> Providers simply cannot take insurance that does not reimburse them sufficiently. Because of Armstrong<\/em>, these providers cannot challenge the low payments, and as a result, more providers may refrain from taking Medicaid beneficiaries. When this occurs, Medicaid recipients will face even worse access to healthcare. As the American Medical Association told the Court, \u201cstate reimbursement rates may represent the difference between life and death.\u201d[9]<\/a><\/p>\n

Despite less media focus on Armstrong<\/em> compared to King<\/em>, make no mistake: the ruling in Armstrong <\/em>will have significant effects. Medicaid Expansion will be irrelevant if providers do not accept Medicaid due to insufficient reimbursement rates. Medicaid beneficiaries will possess an empty promise: health insurance without healthcare. Because of this ruling, Medicaid providers cannot bring their challenges to the courts, but must instead rely on a government agency. I fear that Anderson<\/em> was not an exercise in purely procedural or administrative matters: it was an exercise in limiting healthcare access.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> http:\/\/www.cmanet.org\/news\/detail\/?article=cma-files-brief-in-medicaid-case-to-be-heard<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/nation\/2015\/03\/31\/supreme-court-medicaid\/70722690\/<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> http:\/\/www.scotusblog.com\/2015\/04\/foreclosing-equitable-relief-under-medicaid-act\/<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> http:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/opinions\/14pdf\/14-15_d1oe.pdf<\/p>\n

[5]<\/a>http:\/\/www.americanbar.org\/content\/dam\/aba\/publications\/supreme_court_preview\/BriefsV4\/14-15_amicus_resp_AMA.authcheckdam.pdf<\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> http:\/\/kff.org\/medicaid\/issue-brief\/explaining-armstrong-v-exceptional-child-center-the-supreme-court-considers-private-enforcement-of-the-medicaid-act\/<\/p>\n

[7]<\/a>http:\/\/www.americanbar.org\/content\/dam\/aba\/publications\/supreme_court_preview\/BriefsV4\/14-15_amicus_resp_exHHS.authcheckdam.pdf<\/p>\n

[8]<\/a> http:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/peterubel\/2013\/11\/07\/why-many-physicians-are-reluctant-to-see-medicaid-patients\/<\/p>\n

[9]<\/a>http:\/\/www.americanbar.org\/content\/dam\/aba\/publications\/supreme_court_preview\/BriefsV4\/14-15_amicus_resp_AMA.authcheckdam.pdf<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As the country focuses on the upcoming King v. Burwell decision, the Supreme Court recently ruled on a barely noticed, 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