October Term 2015 · Docket 14-181
Does Vermont's health data law override federal ERISA rules?
Vermont requires insurers to report health data. Liberty Mutual argues federal law blocks this state rule.
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
Ms. Asay argued Vermont's data collection is not preempted.
Mr. Waxman argued ERISA fosters nationally uniform plan administration.
Mr. Bash addressed questions about the Affordable Care Act.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 28-36 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 28-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 46-44 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 46-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 46-26 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 46-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-40 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 28-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-26 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 18-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 32-32 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 32-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-42 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 36-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 6-14 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 6-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 26-26 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 26-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 30-42 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 30-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 46-46 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 46-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 20-32 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 20-32
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests state power to collect health data from insurers. Federal ERISA law aims for uniform national rules. Vermont claims its law regulates health care, not insurance.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 28-36 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 28-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 46-44 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 46-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 2, 2015.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
What each side wants
Vermont wants to keep its health data reporting law.
Liberty Mutual wants the federal law to block the state rule.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 28-36 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 28-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 46-44 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 46-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
What each side says
Vermont argues its law regulates health care, not insurance.
Liberty Mutual argues ERISA requires uniform national recordkeeping rules.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 28-36 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 28-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 46-44 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 46-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked if data collection falls under ERISA.
Justice Alito asked why the original ERISA text matters now.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 46-26 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 46-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-40 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 28-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-26 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 18-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 32-32 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 32-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-42 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 36-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 6-14 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 6-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 26-26 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 26-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 30-42 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 30-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 46-46 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 46-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 20-32 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 20-32
Why it matters
State health data laws face federal preemption challenges. Insurers rely on uniform national rules. Vermont seeks to track health care spending locally.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 28-36 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 28-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 46-44 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 46-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
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 46-26 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 46-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-40 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 28-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-26 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 18-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 32-32 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 32-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-42 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 36-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 6-14 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 6-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 26-26 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 26-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 30-42 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 30-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 46-46 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 46-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 20-32 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 20-32
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 18, lines 28-36 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 28-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 46-44 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 46-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 28-36 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 28-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 46-44 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 46-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
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.