Court Opinion

ID: 4251502
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-03-02 19:50:45.644395+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:43:37.140856
License: Public Domain

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF IDAHO

                                    DOCKET NO. 45016

SAINT ALPHONSUS REGIONAL                )
MEDICAL CENTER,                         )
                                        )
                                        )
      Plaintiff-Appellant,              )
                                                           Boise, January 2018 Term
v.                                      )
                                        )
                                                           2018 Opinion No. 14
                                        )
ADA COUNTY SHERIFF GARY RANEY, in )                        Filed: March 2, 2018
his Official Capacity; ADA COUNTY, and  )
the BOARD OF ADA COUNTY                 )
                                                           Karel A. Lehrman, Clerk
COMMISSIONERS,                          )
                                        )
                                        )
      Defendants-Respondents.           )
_______________________________________ )

       Appeal from the District Court of the Fourth Judicial District of the State of
       Idaho, Ada County. Hon. Richard D. Greenwood, District Judge.

       The district court’s judgment is vacated and remanded for further proceedings.

       Duke Scanlan & Hall, PLLC, Boise, for appellant. Bryan A. Nickels argued.

       Jan M. Bennetts, Ada County Prosecutor, Boise, for respondent. Joseph D. Mallet
       argued.
                                    _____________________

BRODY, Justice.
       Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, Inc. (“Saint Alphonsus”) appeals summary
judgment entered in favor of Ada County Sheriff, Gary Raney, in his official capacity; Ada
County; and the Board of Ada County Commissioners, (collectively, “Ada County”). The district
court ruled as a matter of law that Ada County was not obligated to pay for an inmate’s
(“Patient”) entire hospitalization where the State sought a release from custody during the
hospitalization so the inmate could receive medical treatment. The district court ruled that Ada
County’s obligation to pay for the hospitalization stopped once a release order was entered. We
hold the district court erred in its interpretation of Idaho Code sections 20-605 and 20-612 and

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vacate the judgment entered in favor of Ada County. We remand for further proceedings
consistent with this opinion.
                          I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
       In January 2014, Patient was charged with domestic battery or assault in the presence of a
child. He was incarcerated at the Ada County jail after he was unable to post bond (the “First
Criminal Case”). On March 26, 2014, while still in jail, Patient was charged with three counts of
sexual abuse of a minor under sixteen years of age (the “Second Criminal Case”). Patient’s
arraignment on the Second Criminal Case was scheduled for the next day. Prior to his
arraignment, Patient attempted suicide by hanging himself. He was transported to Saint
Alphonsus for medical treatment and remained there for about two months until he was
discharged from the hospital at the end of May 2014.
       A pretrial conference in the First Criminal Case occurred on April 3, 2014. The
prosecuting attorney and defense counsel met with the magistrate judge in chambers where the
judge was advised that Patient had been charged in the Second Criminal Case and was in the
hospital after attempting suicide in the jail. The minutes from that meeting indicate that the judge
was advised that Patient was likely to survive, but his long term health was in question. The State
moved to release Patient on his own recognizance in the First Criminal Case only. The
magistrate judge granted the motion and entered an order of release.
       The next day, the State filed an ex parte motion to release Patient on his own
recognizance in the Second Criminal Case. The State’s motion advised the court that it wanted to
release Patient so that his family could make necessary medical decisions and facilitate a
possible transfer to another medical facility (which apparently never occurred). The State also
indicated that it intended to seek immediate reinstatement of the bond if Patient’s condition
improved to the point he could be released from the hospital. The magistrate court entered an
order releasing Patient on his own recognizance in the Second Criminal Case on April 4, 2014.
       Ada County paid the medical expenses associated with Patient’s hospitalization from
March 27, 2014 to April 4, 2014 when Patient was released from the State’s custody in both
criminal cases. Saint Alphonsus filed a verified complaint for declaratory judgment and damages
against Ada County, claiming that, pursuant to Idaho Code sections 20-604 and 20-605, Ada
County improperly denied Saint Alphonsus’ claim for payment for the entire hospitalization.

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       Both parties filed cross motions for summary judgment. Ada County argued that it was
obligated to pay for medical expenses for an inmate only while the inmate was in custody. Saint
Alphonsus argued that in 1994 the Legislature amended Idaho Code sections 20-605, 20-612 and
31-3302 to provide that a release from custody for purposes of receiving medical treatment will
not relieve a county from its responsibility to pay for Patient’s hospitalization. The district court
granted Ada County’s motion and entered a judgment dismissing Saint Alphonsus’ claims with
prejudice. Saint Alphonsus timely appealed.
                                    II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
       This Court applies the same standard of review that was used by the trial court in ruling
on a motion for summary judgment. Quemada v. Arizmendez, 153 Idaho 609, 612, 288 P.3d 826,
829 (2012) (quoting Vreeken v. Lockwood Eng’g, B. V., 148 Idaho 89, 101, 218 P.3d 1150, 1162
(2009)). Summary judgment is proper “if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to
any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” I.R.C.P. 56(a).
“[T]his Court construes disputed facts, and all reasonable inferences that can be drawn from the
record, in favor of the non-moving party.” Grabicki v. City of Lewiston, 154 Idaho 686, 690, 302
P.3d 26, 30 (2013) (internal citation omitted). “The moving party is entitled to judgment when
the nonmoving party fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element
essential to that party’s case on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial.” Badell v.
Beeks, 115 Idaho 101, 102, 765 P.2d 126, 127 (1988) (citing Celotex v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317
(1986)).
                                           III. ANALYSIS
A.     The district court erred when it held that Idaho Code sections 20-605 and 20-612 do
       not obligate Ada County to pay for Patient’s entire hospitalization where he was
       released from custody for the purpose of receiving medical treatment.
       We are asked once again to determine which of these parties bears responsibility for an
inmate’s medical expenses. This Court first addressed this issue in Saint Alphonsus Regional
Medical Center, Ltd., v. Killeen, 124 Idaho 197, 858 P.2d 736 (1993). In Killeen, an Ada County
jail inmate was taken to Saint Alphonsus to receive treatment for chest pain. Id. at 197, 858 P.2d
at 736. While she was in the hospital, she was released from the sheriff’s custody on her own
recognizance. Id. Saint Alphonsus filed suit against Ada County seeking payment for the
inmate’s hospitalization. Id. at 198, 858 P.2d at 737.

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       The magistrate court in Killeen determined that Ada County had an obligation to pay the
inmate’s medical expenses, but limited the obligation to those expenses incurred prior to the
inmate’s release from custody. Id. Both parties appealed the magistrate court’s decision, and the
case eventually made its way to this Court. Ada County took the position that Saint Alphonsus’
claim for payment was governed by Idaho’s medical indigency statutes (Idaho Code section 31-
3501 et seq.) and that it had no responsibility for payment as part of the inmate’s incarceration.
Id. This Court affirmed the magistrate court’s judgment in favor of Saint Alphonsus, holding that
Ada County had a statutory duty to pay for the inmate’s medical expenses. We held: “[Idaho
Code sections 31-3302, 31-2202, and 20-612] collectively indicate that it is ultimately the
sheriff’s responsibility to pay for prisoners’ medical expenses.” Id. at 200, 858 P.2d at 739. This
Court limited Ada County’s obligation to pay, however, to the expenses incurred while the
inmate was incarcerated. We explained: “[b]ecause the statutes provide that the sheriff and the
county are responsible only for those in their custody, a fortiori the county need not pay for an
inmate’s medical expenses incurred after that person is no longer in custody.” Id. Although this
Court was sympathetic to Ada County’s argument that it should not have to pay more than the
Medicaid rate for medical expenses incurred by an inmate (the medical indigency statutes
provided for reimbursement at the Medicaid rate), this Court explained that this was a policy
decision that needed to be addressed by the Legislature. Id.
       A few months after the Killeen decision was issued the Legislature passed a bill
amending Idaho Code sections 31-3302, 20-612, and 20-605 (the “1994 Amendments”). Idaho
Code sections 31-3302 and 20-605 were amended again in 2011 to provide a corrected reference
to the Medicaid code provisions, but those clerical amendments are not at issue in this case.
There is no dispute that the 1994 Amendments require that medical expenses for an inmate be
paid at the Medicaid rate. The issue in this case is whether the 1994 Amendments obligate Ada
County to pay for the inmate’s entire hospitalization where the inmate was released from custody
during the hospitalization for purpose of receiving medical treatment.
       This Court exercises free review over statutory interpretation because it is a question of
law. State v. Dunlap, 155 Idaho 345, 361, 313 P.3d 1, 17 (2013).
       The objective of statutory interpretation is to derive the intent of the legislative
       body that adopted the act. Statutory interpretation begins with the literal language
       of the statute. Provisions should not be read in isolation, but must be interpreted in
       the context of the entire document. The statute should be considered as a whole,
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       and words should be given their plain, usual, and ordinary meanings. It should be
       noted that the Court must give effect to all the words and provisions of the statute
       so that none will be void, superfluous, or redundant. When the statutory language
       is unambiguous, the clearly expressed intent of the legislative body must be given
       effect, and the Court need not consider rules of statutory construction.
Id. at 361–62, 313 P.3d at 17–18 (quoting State v. Schulz, 151 Idaho 863, 866, 264 P.3d 970, 973
(2011)). A statute is ambiguous where the language is capable of more than one reasonable
construction. Porter v. Board of Trustees, Preston School Dist. No. 201, 141 Idaho 11, 14, 105
P.3d 671, 674 (2004) (citing Jen-Rath Co., Inc. v. Kit Mfg. Co., 137 Idaho 330, 335, 48 P.3d 659,
664 (2002)). However, “[a]mbiguity is not established merely because differing interpretations
are presented to a court; otherwise, all statutes subject to litigation would be considered
ambiguous.” Id. (internal citation omitted). “[I]f statutory language is clear and unambiguous, the
Court need merely apply the statute without engaging in any statutory construction.” State v.
Burnight, 132 Idaho 654, 659, 978 P.2d 214, 219 (1999).
       To understand the language at issue in this case it is important to walk through all of the
1994 Amendments. To begin with, Idaho Code section 31-3302, titled County Charges
Enumerated, sets forth various expenses that a county must pay. At the time Killeen was decided,
the statute provided that the county was required to pay for the expenses incurred “in support of”
persons committed to the county jail. I.C. § 31-3302 (emphasis added). We interpreted this
provision to include medical expenses, explaining that the sheriff has a constitutional duty to
provide adequate medical care for prisoners and that section 31-3302 puts the responsibility for
payment on the counties. See 124 Idaho at 199, 858 P.2d at 738. In response to Ada County’s
policy argument in Killeen, the Legislature amended section 31-3302 in 1994 to make it clear
that medical expenses are to be paid at the Medicaid rate. The statute provided:
       The following are county charges:
              (3) The expenses necessarily incurred in the support of persons charged
       with or convicted of crime and committed therefor to the county jail. Provided
       that any medical expenses shall be paid at the unadjusted medicaid rate of
       reimbursement as provided in section 31–3502(4), Idaho Code, unless a rate of
       reimbursement is otherwise established by contract or agreement.

I.C. § 31-3302(3) (1994 Idaho Laws Ch. 362 (H.B. 752)).
       The Legislature also amended Idaho Code section 20-612, titled Reception and Board of
Prisoners. At the time of the Killeen decision, section 20-612 did not specifically list medical

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care as part of the items that must be furnished by the sheriff. This Court determined that the list
of items in section 20-612 was not exclusive and that the omission did not foreclose Saint
Alphonsus’ claim. The Legislature amended section 20-612 in 1994 to make it clear that sheriffs
must provide inmates with medical care. The statute now provides in relevant part:
                The sheriff must receive all persons committed to jail by competent
        authority . . . . It shall be the duty of the board of county commissioners to furnish
        all persons committed to the county jail with necessary food, clothing and
        bedding, and medical care as provided in section 20-605, Idaho Code, and the
        board of county commissioners is authorized to pay therefor out of the county
        treasury under such rules and regulations as they may prescribe.

I.C. § 20-612.
        Section 20-612 as amended now explicitly references Idaho Code section 20-605, titled
Costs of Confinement. Under this provision, sheriffs must furnish jail inmates with “medical care
as provided in section 20-605.” We explained in Killeen that section 20-605 applies to situations
where an inmate is housed in a jail outside of the county where the prosecution is taking place.
Although this provision was not directly at issue in Killeen, this Court reasoned that it provided
further support by analogy that the county must pay inmate medical expenses. 124 Idaho at 199,
858 P.2d at 738.
        The 1994 Amendments also included changes to section 20-605 to provide in pertinent
part:
        The county wherein any court has entered an order pursuant to section 20-604,
        Idaho Code, shall pay all direct and indirect costs of the detention or confinement
        of the person to the governmental unit or agency owning or operating the jail or
        confinement facilities in which the person was confined or detained. The amount
        of such direct and indirect costs shall be determined on a per day per person basis
        by agreement between the county wherein the court entered the order and the
        county or governmental unit or agency owning or operating such jail or
        confinement facilities. In the absence of such agreement or order fixing the cost as
        provided in section 20-606, Idaho Code, the charge for each person confined or
        detained shall be the sum of thirty-five dollars ($35.00) per day, plus the actual
        cost of any medical or dental services paid at the unadjusted medicaid rate of
        reimbursement as provided in section 31–3502(4), Idaho Code, unless a rate of
        reimbursement is otherwise established by contract or agreement. . . . Release
        from an order pursuant to section 20-604, Idaho Code, for the purpose of a person
        receiving medical treatment shall not relieve the county of its obligation of paying
        the medical care expenses imposed in this section. . . .
I.C. § 20-605 (1994 Idaho Laws Ch. 362 (H.B. 752)).

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       Saint Alphonsus contends that the last sentence of section 20-605 as amended
unambiguously provides that Ada County must pay for Patient’s entire hospitalization because
the patient was released from custody for purpose of receiving medical treatment. Saint
Alphonsus contends that this provision was the Legislature’s direct response to this Court’s
ruling in Killeen where we held that the county’s obligation to pay ended with the release from
custody. Saint Alphonsus contends that the Legislature understood that where an inmate is
injured in the county jail and taken for medical treatment, the county should remain responsible
for the entire bill even in situations where an astute prosecuting attorney representing the county
asks the court to release the patient on his own recognizance during the hospitalization. We agree
with Saint Alphonsus’ reading of the 1994 Amendments.
       Read in isolation, section 20-605 applies to situations where county inmates are housed in
facilities outside the prosecuting county. Indeed, in Bannock Cnty. v. City of Pocatello, 110
Idaho 292, 295, 715 P.2d 962, 965 (1986), this Court held that “[Idaho Code sections] 20–604, –
605 and –606 are specific statutes which pertain only to the housing of prisoners in another
county, while [Idaho Code section] 20–612 applies to prisoners housed within the county.” Ada
County’s reliance on the Bannock County decision at this point, however, is misplaced. The 1994
changes to section 20-612 now incorporate Idaho Code section 20-605 by direct reference: “[i]t
shall be the duty of the board of county commissioners to furnish all persons committed to the
county jail with . . . medical care as provided in section 20-605, Idaho Code. . .” I.C. § 20-612
(emphasis added). The medical care set forth in section 20-605 now applies to the county’s
obligation to provide medical care for inmates within its own county jail.
       It is undisputed that Patient was released from custody for the purpose of receiving
medical treatment. We hold that under Idaho Code sections 20-605, 20-612, and 31-3302, Ada
County is required to pay for Patient’s entire hospitalization at the Medicaid rate. As a result, we
vacate the district court’s judgment.
                                        IV. CONCLUSION
       We hereby vacate the district court’s judgment and remand the case for further
proceedings consistent with this opinion.

       Chief Justice BURDICK, Justice BEVAN, and Justices Pro Tem KIDWELL and
GUTIERREZ CONCUR.

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