October Term 2005 · Docket 04-1506
Does Medicaid recover full medical costs from a reduced settlement?
Arkansas seeks full medical reimbursement from a reduced settlement. Ahlborn argues the state must accept a proportional share.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Freno stated Medicaid paid over $215,000 for care.
Blair noted settlement proceeds were less than total damages.
Millett argued private parties often deplete settlement funds first.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 1-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 1-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-54 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-7
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
A state Medicaid program paid for accident care. The recipient later received a smaller settlement. The state wants its full costs back. The recipient wants a reduced payment.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 7-33
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 27, 2006.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
What each side wants
Arkansas wants full reimbursement of its medical costs.
Ahlborn wants to pay only a proportional share.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 7-33
What each side says
Arkansas argues it is entitled to full recovery.
Ahlborn argues the state must accept a reduced share.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 7-33
What the justices asked
Justice Stevens questioned how a settlement occurred without notice.
Justice Breyer asked if parties can settle claims unilaterally.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 1-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 1-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-54 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-7
Why it matters
This case defines state recovery limits. It affects Medicaid budgets nationwide. It determines how settlements allocate costs. It impacts patient financial liability.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 7-33
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 1-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 1-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-54 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-7
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 7-33
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.