October Term 2024 · Docket 23-715
Does SSI eligibility require actual receipt of monthly payments?
Hospitals argue SSI eligibility means program qualification. The government argues it means receiving cash.
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
Ms. Sherry argued the same words must have the same meaning.
Mr. McDowell explained the provision compensates hospitals for serving low-income patients.
Justice Sotomayor raised concerns about Medicaid income assignment rules.
Justice Thomas asked about non-cash benefits under Title XVI.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 53-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 9-51 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 9-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 53-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-51
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests how courts count low-income patients for hospital funding.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 53-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 53-7
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 5, 2024.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 33-51
What each side wants
The hospital wants to count all SSI-eligible patients.
The government wants to count only patients who received cash.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 53-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 53-7
What each side says
The hospital argues statutory text defines eligibility broadly.
The government argues eligibility requires actual payment receipt.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 53-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 53-7
What the justices asked
Justice Barrett asked if the hospital waived certain challenges.
Justice Jackson asked if distinguishing eligibility and payment is common.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 53-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 9-51 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 9-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-51
Why it matters
This dispute determines how hospitals calculate federal funding. It affects how many patients count as low-income. It shapes hospital financial stability nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 53-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 53-7
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 27-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 53-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 9-51 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 9-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-51
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 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 53-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 53-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 53-7
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.