Supreme Court opens term with Medicaid cut case

[alp227]

Source: The Washington Post

The Supreme Court began its new term Monday with a complicated case about whether those who provide care and receive benefits under the Medicaid program for the poor can go to court when a state tries to cut spending on the program.

California, which for budget reasons reduced its reimbursement rate for the program by 10 percent, and the Obama administration say individuals do not have a right to go to court. They say only the federal government may determine whether the rates paid to doctors and other providers are proper under the federal Medicaid law.

But Washington lawyer Carter Phillips, representing the private plaintiffs, said they must have some access to the courts when a conflict arises.

“My people have a life and death problem,” Phillips told the court.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/supreme-court-opens-term-with-medicaid-cut-case/2011/10/03/gIQAUKU3IL_story.html

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The case is Douglas v. Independent Living Centers of Southern California.

[MichiganVote]

1. This should be interesting.

[SoapBox]

2. Oh man...this indeed may be telling.