Supreme Court Decision Alert - February 22, 2012

Originally published February 22, 2012

Keywords: Medicaid, private right of action, supremacy clause,

On February 22, 2012, the Supreme Court issued one decision, described below, of interest to the business community.

• Medicaid—Private Right of Action Under Supremacy Clause

Medicaid—Private Right of Action Under Supremacy Clause

Douglas v. Independent Living Center of Southern California, Inc., No. 09-958 (previously discussed in the January 18, 2011 Docket Report).

In Douglas v. Independent Living Center of Southern California, Inc., No. 09-958, and two related cases, the Supreme Court granted certiorari to decide whether the Ninth Circuit correctly held that Medicaid providers and beneficiaries may sue for injunctive relief under the Supremacy Clause to block state statutes that reduce Medicaid payments in alleged contravention of a federal statute. Today, in a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court did not resolve that issue, but instead vacated