October Term 2021 · Docket 20-1641
Who pays first for dialysis when Medicare and private insurance overlap?
A hospital plan and a dialysis provider dispute who must pay first for end-stage renal disease patients.
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
The hospital plan claims Congress prioritized private payment for dialysis.
The dialysis provider claims the law sets a thirty-month coordination period.
justice_question
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-49 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 9-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 9-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 55-1 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 55-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 91, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 91, lines 47-51
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether a private health plan must pay before Medicare for dialysis patients.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 91, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 91, lines 47-51
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 1, 2022.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-37
What each side wants
The hospital plan wants the lower court to reverse its loss.
The dialysis provider wants the lower court to affirm its win.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 91, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 91, lines 47-51
What each side says
The hospital plan argues Congress required private plans to pay first for dialysis.
The dialysis provider argues the law only coordinates benefits for thirty months.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 91, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 91, lines 47-51
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if the plan encourages people to join Medicare.
Justice Breyer asked if Tier I applies to specific buildings.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-49 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 9-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 9-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 55-1 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 55-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-11
Why it matters
This dispute determines who pays for dialysis when two insurers cover a patient.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 91, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 91, lines 47-51
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 41-45 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-49 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 9-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 9-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 55-1 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 55-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-11
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 47, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 91, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 91, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 91, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 91, lines 47-51
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.