Opinion ID: 779909
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Parties and Procedural History

Text: 10 The plaintiff, CHC, is an FQHC operating in the State of Connecticut. In both 1999 and 2000, CHC just missed meeting Connecticut's productivity screen, recording 3,982 visits per physician in 1999 and 4,172 visits per physician in 2000. 6 Because the present Medicaid statute makes future rates dependent upon a provider's reasonable and related costs for 1999 and 2000, 42 U.S.C. § 1396a(bb)(2), CHC's shortfalls in that period will result in a reduction in the amount of money it receives in the future for each visit, from $97.34 to $95.19. CHC alleges that this reduction will cost it approximately $90,000 per year. 11 On January 26, 2001, CHC filed suit, in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, challenging CDSS's 4,200 productivity screen as inconsistent with federal law. CHC amended its Complaint on May 15, 2001. The Amended Complaint names as the sole Defendant Patricia Wilson-Coker, the CDSS Commissioner, who is sued only in her official capacity. 12 CHC and Wilson-Coker subsequently each moved for summary judgment. In a thoughtful opinion, the District Court granted summary judgment in favor of CHC on November 30, 2001. See Cmty. Health Ctr., Inc. v. Wilson-Coker, 175 F.Supp.2d 332, 333 (D.Conn.2001). The District Court first determined that the Medicaid statutory phrase, reasonable and related to the cost of furnishing such services, or based on such other tests of reasonableness as the Secretary prescribes in regulations under [Medicare], can only be read to mean that any state method for determining costs that are reasonable and related must mirror existing federal Medicare regulations. Id. at 336-39 (quoting 42 U.S.C. § 1396a(bb)(2)). The Court next concluded that its search for underlying federal regulations must be limited to validly-promulgated regulations. Id. at 342. It therefore went on to consider whether the 4,200 productivity screen contained in CMS's Rural Health Clinic and Federally Qualified Health Center Manual was validly promulgated. Id. at 342-48. The District Court concluded, ultimately, that the federal 4,200 productivity screen was invalid, and therefore that Connecticut's identical screen was contrary to federal law. Id. at 348. 13 This appeal followed. The District Court had jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1343(a)(4). We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291.