Becerra v. Empire Health Foundation, For Valley Hospital Medical Center
View Official PDFBelow are plain-language sections to help you understand what the Court decided in Becerra v. Empire Health Foundation, For Valley Hospital Medical Center and why it matters. Quotes are taken from the syllabus (the Court’s short summary at the start of the opinion).
Summary
A short, plain-English overview of Becerra v. Empire Health Foundation, For Valley Hospital Medical Center.
The Supreme Court addressed whether patients insured by Medicare but not receiving payments for hospital stays should be counted as 'entitled to benefits' under Medicare Part A for calculating the disproportionate share hospital adjustment. The Court reversed the Ninth Circuit's decision, supporting the Department of Health and Human Services' interpretation that all qualifying individuals are included in the Medicare fraction, regardless of payment status.
Holding
The single most important “bottom line” of what the Court decided in Becerra v. Empire Health Foundation, For Valley Hospital Medical Center.
The Court held that individuals 'entitled to [Medicare Part A] benefits' include all those qualifying for the program, regardless of whether they receive Medicare payments.
Constitutional Concepts
These are the Constitution-related themes that appear in Becerra v. Empire Health Foundation, For Valley Hospital Medical Center. Click a concept to see other cases that involve the same idea.
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Why Administrative Law is relevant to Becerra v. Empire Health Foundation, For Valley Hospital Medical Center
The case revolves around the interpretation of a regulation by the Department of Health and Human Services, which is an administrative agency, and whether this interpretation is consistent with statutory provisions.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)HHS's regulation is consistent with the text, context, and structure of the DSH provisions.
Key Quotes
Short excerpts from the syllabus in Becerra v. Empire Health Foundation, For Valley Hospital Medical Center that support the summary and concepts above.
HHS's regulation is consistent with the text, context, and structure of the DSH provisions.
Empire's interpretation would also make a hash of provisions designed to inform Medicare beneficiaries of their benefits.
The statute recompenses hospitals for serving two different low-income populations.
