Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Whether Federal Emergency Treatment Law Preempts State Abortion Ban

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday heard oral arguments in Moyle v. United States, (Docket No. 23-726) and Idaho v. United States, (Docket No. 23-727). (Audio and Transcript of full oral arguments). The case poses the question of whether the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act that requires hospitals accepting Medicare to provide stabilizing emergency treatment to patients preempts state abortion bans when such treatment would involve pregnancy termination. The Court took the case without waiting for 9th Circuit review. (See prior posting.) SCOTUSblog reports on the oral arguments.

District Court Upholds Denial of Medicare Reimbursement To Christian Science Nursing Training Programs

In Chestnut Hill Benevolent Association v. Burwell, (D DC, Nov. 3, 2015), the D.C. federal district court upheld a ruling by the Center for Medicare Services that four Christian Science nursing facilities were not entitled to Medicare reimbursement for furnishing "approved educational activities."  The court concluded that while the Christian Science Nursing Arts Training Programs offered by these facilities are accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Christian Science Nursing Organizations/Facilities, the Commission's standards do not meet those required by Medicare regulations.