{"argument_date":"2015-01-20T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2015-01-20T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2014","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Withroe argued no private right of action exists under Section 1983.","Mr. Piotrowski stated an APA challenge was not a viable alternative.","Mr. Kneedler explained Medicaid differs from other Spending Clause programs."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 51-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 5-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 45-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 15-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 15-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 7-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 49-39"}]}],"caption":"Armstrong v. Exceptional Child Center, Inc.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:23.403827Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:23.435391Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Providers seek full payment for services. State law caps rates. The dispute centers on federal preemption.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 5-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 45-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 15-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 15-13"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2015-01-20T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2014","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/14-15.html","primary_docket":"14-15","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T20:00:48.082195Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":2}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["This case tests whether the Supremacy Clause creates a private right to sue for higher Medicaid rates."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 5-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 45-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 15-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 15-13"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 20, 2015."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 7-10"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Providers want full payment for services rendered.","The state wants to enforce its statutory rate caps."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 5-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 45-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 15-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 15-13"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Providers argue federal law preempts state rate limits.","The state argues no private right of action exists."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 5-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 45-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 15-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 15-13"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Sotomayor asked why this is not an enforcement action.","Justice Breyer asked if a doctor can sue for the difference in rates."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 51-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 7-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 49-39"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute determines how providers recover costs under Medicaid. It defines the scope of federal preemption in healthcare billing."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 5-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 45-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 15-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 15-13"}]},{"heading":"What happens next","paragraphs":["This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 51-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 7-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 49-39"}]}],"slug":"2014-14-15-armstrong-v-exceptional-child-center-inc","term":"2014","title":"Can providers sue for full Medicaid rates when state law caps them?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 5-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 45-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 15-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/14-15_26o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 15-13"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}