October Term 2021 · Docket 20-1263
Can states claim third-party settlements for Medicaid costs?
the sides that brought the case argue Medicaid cannot take third-party settlements. the opposing sides argue states must recover those funds.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion 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
Mr. Gowdy argued Medicaid is a benefit, not a loan.
Mr. Suri argued the dispute turns on who paid expenses.
Mr. Whitaker argued states must recover costs from tortfeasors.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 103, lines 55-33 — Transcript, file page 103, lines 55-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 49-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 49-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 41-51 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-53 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 35-19 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 35-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 17-19
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests state Medicaid recovery rights. the sides that brought the case seek to keep settlement funds. the opposing sides seek state reimbursement.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 103, lines 55-33 — Transcript, file page 103, lines 55-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 45-47
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 10, 2022.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 29-35
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want to keep third-party settlement funds.
the opposing sides want states to recover Medicaid costs.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 103, lines 55-33 — Transcript, file page 103, lines 55-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 45-47
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue Medicaid is a benefit, not a loan.
the opposing sides argue states must recover costs from tortfeasors.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 103, lines 55-33 — Transcript, file page 103, lines 55-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 45-47
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if the dispute involves past or future expenses.
Justice Thomas asked if limitations apply to child support.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 49-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 49-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 41-51 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-53 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 35-19 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 35-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 17-19
Why it matters
This dispute affects state Medicaid budgets. It determines who controls settlement funds. It shapes beneficiary financial rights.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 103, lines 55-33 — Transcript, file page 103, lines 55-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 45-47
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 10, lines 33-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 49-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 49-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 41-51 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-53 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 35-19 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 35-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 17-19
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 103, lines 55-33 — Transcript, file page 103, lines 55-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 103, lines 55-33 — Transcript, file page 103, lines 55-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 45-47
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.