UnitedHealthcare of N.Y., Inc. v. Vullo
UnitedHealthcare of N.Y., Inc. v. Vullo
Opinion of the Court
The plaintiffs, UnitedHealthcare of New York and Oxford Health Insurance, Inc., bring this action against the defendant, Maria T. Vullo, the Superintendent of Financial Services of the State of New York. This case involves the interplay between a proposed risk adjustment program by the New York State Superintendent of Financial Services for individual and small group insurance markets in New York State, and a federal risk adjustment program under the Affordable Care Act (the "ACA"). A risk adjustment program attempts to balance risks to insurers by requiring insurers with less risky groups of insureds to contribute to a pool to assist insurers with more risky pools. The plaintiffs contend that some of the funds awarded to them by the federal program will be taken away to assist other insurers in New York State because of specific New York State considerations. They contend that the New York State program is therefore preempted by the federal program and constitutes and unconstitutional taking and illegal exaction of their property in violation of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments and
I.
In defending a motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1), the plaintiffs bear the burden of proving the Court's jurisdiction by a preponderance of the evidence. Makarova v. United States,
On a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), the allegations in the complaint are accepted as true. Grandon v. Merrill Lynch & Co.,
II.
The following facts are taken from the plaintiffs' complaint and from public documents of which the Court can take judicial notice. The facts alleged in the complaint are accepted as true for purposes of the defendant's motion.
This case concerns the interaction of two government programs that were developed to regulate the health insurance market. One program was authorized by New York State and implemented by the defendant, Superintendent Vullo. The second program was authorized by the federal government and is implemented by two agencies of the federal government, the Department of Health and Human Services ("HHS") and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ("CMS"). The plaintiffs' claims in this case concern the interaction of the state program with the federal program.
Both the state and federal programs are "risk adjustment" programs that operate in the health insurance market. The purpose of a risk adjustment program is "to encourage insurers to compete for enrollees' business based on the value and efficiency of an insurer's particular health insurance plan, rather than only competing for the healthiest enrollees." Compl. ¶ 27. Risk adjustment programs fulfill this purpose by requiring insurers with enrollees who are healthier than the state-covered average in a given plan year to make payments into a common fund. Compl. ¶ 28. Those funds are then transferred to insurers that incurred higher claim costs due to having enrollees who are sicker than the state-covered average in that same plan year. Compl. ¶ 28. This system eliminates an insurer's incentive to seek to cover only the healthiest individuals, because such an insurer will be required to pay into the fund if its overall population of insureds is healthier than the state average. Various methodologies are employed by risk adjustment programs to determine which insurance companies must pay into the fund and which insurance companies are owed money from the fund in any given plan year.
In 1992, New York State enacted a law that required the Superintendent of the Department of Financial Services to promulgate regulations creating New York-specific risk adjustment pools.
The ACA was enacted in 2010 and made fully operational on January 1, 2014. Compl. ¶ 19. The ACA is administered by HHS and CMS. Compl. ¶ 21. One feature of the ACA was the development of a federal risk adjustment program (the "FRAP"), which the ACA authorized HHS to develop.
HHS developed the risk adjustment methodology to be applied under the FRAP. The methodology determines which insurance companies owe money into the program and which companies are owed money from the program in any given plan year. Compl. ¶ 46. The final risk adjustment methodology is "detailed and complex" and has been amended by HHS over time. Compl. ¶ 46. HHS uses data provided by the insurers to calculate the amount of the payments. Compl. ¶ 47.
On May 11, 2016, HHS published an interim final rule that addressed the implementation of the FRAP.
Based on our experience operating the 2014 benefit year risk adjustment program, HHS has become aware that certain issuers, including some new, rapidly growing, and smaller issuers, owed substantial risk adjustment charges that they did not anticipate. HHS has had a number of discussions with issuers and State regulators on ways to help ease issuers' transition to the new health insurance markets and the effects of unanticipated risk adjustment charge amounts. We believe that a robust risk adjustment program that addresses new market dynamics due to rating reforms and guaranteed issue is critical to the proper functioning of these new markets. However, we are sympathetic to these concerns and recognize that States are the primary regulators of their insurance markets. We encourage States to examine whether any local approaches, under State legal authority, are warranted to help ease this transition to new health insurance markets.
On September 9, 2016, the Superintendent promulgated an emergency regulation, 11 NYCRR § 361.9, pursuant to her authority under the
On May 3, 2017, the Superintendent promulgated a proposed permanent regulation establishing a risk adjustment program for the plan years 2018 and thereafter. Compl. ¶ 73. See also 11 NYCRR § 361.10. The regulation was adopted on a permanent basis on July 31, 2018 (the "2018 NYRA"). See Docket No. 65. The regulation adopts similar procedures for the implementation of a risk adjustment program as the 2017 NYRA.
On April 17, 2018, HHS and CMS issued a final rule addressing adjustments to its prior rules implementing the ACA and implementing new regulations effective June 8, 2018. With respect to the risk adjustment programs, the 2019 Final Rule noted:
However, we recognize that States are the primary regulators of their insurance markets. In the May 2016 Interim Final Rule, HHS recognized some State regulators' belief that reducing the magnitude of risk adjustment charge amounts could be beneficial to the insurance markets in their States. For some States, an adjustment to risk adjustment transfers calculated under the HHS-operated risk adjustment program might more precisely account for cost differences attributable to adverse selection in the respective State market risk pools. We encouraged States to examine whether any local approaches under State legal authority are warranted to help ease the transition for new entrants to the health insurance markets and mitigate the effects of large risk adjustment charge amounts.
The plaintiffs, UnitedHealthcare of New York and Oxford Health Insurance, are health insurance companies that offer insurance policies in the State of New York. Compl. ¶¶ 12-13. Both plaintiffs have been in the past, and expect to be with respect to benefit years 2017 and 2018, recipients of risk adjustment payments under the FRAP. Compl. ¶ 65.
The plaintiffs allege two sets of claims.
First, the plaintiffs allege that the 2017 NYRA and the 2018 NYRA, which purport to collect funds received by the plaintiffs under the FRAP for redistribution to other insurers in New York, are preempted *478by the ACA and the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution. See Compl. ¶¶ 94-100 (Count I); ¶¶ 101-104 (Count II); ¶¶ 122-29 (Count VI); ¶¶ 130-133 (Count VII).
Second, the plaintiffs allege that the 2017 NYRA and the 2018 NYRA will effect an unconstitutional taking or illegal exaction of their property in violation of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments and
The defendant has moved to dismiss all of the plaintiffs' claims.
With respect to the preemption claims, the defendant first argues that the Court has no subject matter jurisdiction to review the claims because the plaintiffs do not rely on a federal statute or any other provision of federal law that establishes a cause of action to assert a preemption challenge. The defendant also argues that, even if the Court does have jurisdiction to review the claims, the preemption claims have no merit because the state regulations do not conflict with the ACA.
With respect to the takings and illegal exaction claims, the defendant first argues that the Court has no subject matter jurisdiction to review the claims because they are not ripe. The defendant also argues that the claims have no merit because the plaintiffs do not have any vested interest in the property they claim will be unlawfully taken, and further, that their takings claims merely restate their flawed preemption arguments.
Lastly, the defendant argues that this Court should abstain from deciding this case under the Burford abstention doctrine.
III.
The plaintiffs' First and Second claims for relief allege that the 2017 NYRA is preempted by federal law. The plaintiffs' Sixth and Seventh claims for relief allege that the 2018 NYRA is preempted by federal law.
A.
The defendant argues initially that the Court does not have subject matter jurisdiction over the plaintiffs' preemption claims because the plaintiffs do not allege a cause of action for preemption pursuant to the federal constitution or any federal statute.
The plaintiffs argue that there is jurisdiction over their claims for declaratory and injunctive relief under the Supreme Court's decision in Ex Parte Young,
However, the defendant argues that the plaintiffs' injunctive claims are precluded by the Supreme Court's decision in Armstrong v. Exceptional Child Center, Inc., --- U.S. ----,
The Court noted two aspects of the Medicaid Act that it believed established Congress's implicit "intent to foreclose" equitable relief for alleged violation of that statute.
Here, the ACA "cannot be analogized to the Medicaid statute in either of the two ways prompting jurisdictional concern in Armstrong." East Hampton,
Second, the ACA's provisions governing the establishment of a risk adjustment plan are not "judicially unadministrable" under the standard set forth in Armstrong. In Armstrong, the Court found that the Medicaid Act's mandate that "state plans provide for payments that are 'consistent with efficiency, economy, and quality of care' all the while 'safeguard[ing] against unnecessary utilization of ... care and services" was broad and unspecific.
*480Accordingly, with respect to risk adjustment, the ACA does not strip private citizens of their long-standing right under Ex Parte Young to invoke federal jurisdiction to enjoin a state entity from subjecting them to a local law enacted in alleged violation of federal requirements. See East Hampton,
B.
The defendant next argues that, even if the Court has subject matter jurisdiction to review the plaintiffs' preemption claim, the plaintiffs' claim should be dismissed because the ACA does not preempt the 2017 NYRA.
"Preemption can generally occur in three ways: where Congress has expressly preempted state law, where Congress has legislated so comprehensively that federal law occupies an entire field of regulation and leaves no room for state law, or where federal law conflicts with state law." Wachovia Bank, N.A. v. Burke,
The plaintiffs argue that three provisions of the ACA expressly preempt the 2017 NYRA. These arguments are meritless.
First, the plaintiffs argue that section 18041(d) of the Act, which directly addresses the issue of preemption, expressly prohibits the 2017 NYRA. That section states: "Nothing in this title shall be construed to preempt any State law that does not prevent the application of the provisions of this title."
But this provision makes clear that state regulations are not preempted unless they "prevent the application" of the ACA.
The plaintiffs' reliance on § 300gg-23(a)(1) of the Act as expressly preempting the 2017 NYRA fares no better. That provision states:
(a) Continued applicability of State law with respect to health insurance issuers
(1) In general
Subject to paragraph (2) and except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, this part and part C of this subchapter insofar as it relates to this part shall not be construed to supersede any provision of State law which establishes, implements, or continues in effect any standard or requirement solely relating to health insurance issuers in connection with individual or group health insurance coverage except to the extent that such standard or requirement prevents the application of a requirement of this part.
42 U.S.C. § 300gg-23 (emphases added). Like § 18041(d), this provision sets forth a presumption against preemption. And, as discussed below, the 2017 NYRA does not prevent the application of any requirements of the ACA and therefore the 2017 NYRA is not preempted by this section.
Third, the plaintiffs argue that the 2017 NYRA is expressly preempted by
(3) Any State that elects to operate an Exchange but does not elect to administer risk adjustment will forgo implementation *481of all State functions in this subpart, and HHS will carry out all of the provisions of this subpart on behalf of the State.
(4) Beginning in 2015, any State that is approved to operate an Exchange and elects to operate risk adjustment but has not been approved by HHS to operate risk adjustment prior to publication of its State notice of benefit and payment parameters for the applicable benefit year, will forgo implementation of all State functions in this subpart, and HHS will carry out all of the provisions of this subpart on behalf of the State.
Section 153.310 requires a State to seek approval of HHS to "implement a risk adjustment program for a benefit year [that] administer[s] the applicable Federally certified risk adjustment methodology". § 153.310(c)(1). But the 2017 NYRA does not seek to administer the "Federally certified risk adjustment methodology." Rather, the Superintendent has sought to implement a risk adjustment program authorized by a state statute that is administered based on a risk adjustment methodology developed by the State and designed to take into account state-specific parameters. Accordingly, in promulgating the 2017 NYRA, the Superintendent has not sought to "implement" any part of § 153.310.
The ACA also does not preempt the 2017 NYRA under the doctrine of field preemption. As an initial matter,
Moreover, statements made by HHS and CMS after the adoption of the ACA make plain that the ACA was not intended to occupy the entire field of risk adjustment. HHS has published several statements after the enactment of the ACA that explicitly set forth its understanding of the States' role in the implementation of risk adjustment programs, and in those statements HHS has made clear that it believes the States still have a role to play.
In May 2016, HSS published an interim final rule in the Federal Register which discussed the FRAP. HHS acknowledged that there had been some unanticipated consequences of the FRAP but reiterated its commitment to -- and the value of -- risk adjustment programs. HHS went on to state: "[W]e are sympathetic to these concerns and recognize that States are the primary regulators of their insurance markets. We encourage States to examine whether any local approaches, under State legal authority, are warranted to help ease this transition to new health insurance markets."
*482These express declarations by HSS and CMS indicate that the ACA was not intended to be comprehensive in the field such that it preempted any state action in the area of risk adjustment. To the contrary, HHS and CMS have explicitly acknowledged that the regulation of insurance has historically been left to the States and that some significant flexibility in implementing these regulations was left to the States by the ACA.
Finally, there is no conflict between the FRAP and the 2017 NYRA, nor does the 2017 NYRA "stand as an obstacle to the achievement of the federal goals and objectives." Pls.' Mem. Supp. Mot. Partial Summ. J. 25.
The plaintiffs argue that
But the requirements set forth in § 153.310 only apply to States who opt to implement the FRAP themselves. In other words, if a State wishes to "administer the applicable Federally certified risk adjustment methodology" itself, it must comply with the requirements set forth in § 153.310. But that provision does not require a State to seek HHS approval to implement a risk adjustment program that is governed by risk adjustment methodologies developed by that State, that takes into consideration state-specific concerns, and that is meant to remedy unintended consequences of the FRAP in the State.
Here, the Superintendent seeks to implement a state risk adjustment program pursuant to a state insurance law passed more than 25 years ago that granted the Superintendent the power to develop a risk adjustment program for the State. See
Additionally, HHS has explicitly acknowledged that such local programs may be necessary and encouraged States to consider adopting them. The defendant has represented that there were such adverse consequences from the FRAP on the health insurance market in New York. See *483Second Powell Decl. ¶ 41, Docket No. 40 ("Since the implementation of [the FRAP], two companies operating in New York's small group market, both of whom were required to make large payments into the [FRAP], have left the market.... The departure of both of these insurers has had negative and destabilizing effects on the health insurance market in New York with adverse impacts for both consumers and small businesses."); 11 NYCRR § 361.9(a)(2) ("In certain respects, however, the calculations for the federal risk adjustment program do not take into account certain factors, resulting in unintended consequences."). The 2017 NYRA seeks to resolve those unintended consequences of the FRAP by using state authority to adopt a state specific risk adjustment program. The 2017 NYRA does not impede the federal program, but instead is complementary to the FRAP and furthers the purposes of the FRAP.
A final rule issued by CMS in April 2018, adopting regulations effective June 18, 2018, makes plain that the FRAP is not intended to preempt state programs. The rule addressed adjustments made to CMS's prior regulations implementing the ACA. With respect to risk adjustment, the rule reiterated:
However, we recognize that States are the primary regulators of their insurance markets. In the May 2016 Interim Final Rule, HHS recognized some State regulators' belief that reducing the magnitude of risk adjustment charge amounts could be beneficial to the insurance markets in their States. For some States, an adjustment to risk adjustment transfers calculated under the HHS-operated risk adjustment program might more precisely account for cost differences attributable to adverse selection in the respective State market risk pools. We encouraged States to examine whether any local approaches under State legal authority are warranted to help ease the transition for new entrants to the health insurance markets and mitigate the effects of large risk adjustment charge amounts.
The plaintiffs argue that, despite this language, the final rule actually supports their position, because it also introduces a new regulation, that will take effect in the 2020 benefit year, that allows States to request a reduction to the federal risk adjustment transfers of up to 50 percent "in States where HHS operates the risk adjustment program."
But the final rule also directly addressed the 2017 NYRA in response to comments made about that regulation, and CMS made clear that the new regulation was not meant to displace State action taken pursuant to State authority.
[a] few commentators noted that New York has already taken action to reduce transfers under the State's authority, and requested clarification whether other *484States could take steps under existing State authority. One commenter noted that the New York adjustment could be seen as permitting States to make adjustment without HHS approval and requested clarification that States making adjustments to the risk adjustment formula must first obtain approval from HHS under the risk adjustment program prior to implementing any State-specific adjustments.
[W]e encourage States to examine whether any local approaches under State legal authority are warranted to help ease the transition for new participants to the health insurance markets. States that take action and make adjustments do not generally need HHS approval as these States are acting under their own State authority and using State resources. However, the flexibility finalized in this rule involves a reduction to the risk adjustment transfers calculated by HHS and will require HHS review as outlined above.
In sum, the fact that the agencies responsible for implementing the FRAP -- HHS and CMS -- have repeatedly stated that States may turn to their own authority to adjust for unintended consequences of the FRAP -- and have acknowledged that there have been such unintended consequences -- is strong evidence that the ACA does not preempt the 2017 NYRA.
Accordingly, the plaintiffs' argument that the 2017 NYRA is preempted by the ACA is without merit. The defendant's motion to dismiss the First, Second, Sixth, and Seventh counts is granted.
IV.
The plaintiffs' Third, Fourth, and Fifth claims for relief allege that the 2017 NYRA will effect an unlawful taking or illegal exaction of their property. The plaintiffs' Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth claims for relief make the same claims with respect to the 2018 NYRA.
*485A.
First, the defendant argues that the Court does not have jurisdiction over the plaintiffs' takings claims because they are not ripe.
The purpose behind the doctrine of constitutional ripeness is to "prevent[ ] a federal court from entangling itself in abstract disagreements over matters that are premature for review because the injury is merely speculative and may never occur." In re Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) Prod. Liab. Litig.,
However, "[a]n allegation of future injury may suffice if the threatened injury is certainly impending, or there is a substantial risk that the harm will occur." Susan B. Anthony List v. Driehaus, --- U.S. ----,
With respect to the claims for relief regarding the 2017 NYRA (Counts Four, Five, and Six), the controversy is ripe because, while the claim is contingent on a future event -- namely the actual implementation of the 2017 NYRA -- statements made by the Superintendent make plain that there is a "substantial risk" that some portion of the plaintiffs' payout from the FRAP will be taken from them by the Superintendent pursuant to the 2017 NYRA.
The 2017 NYRA has been adopted on a permanent basis and is currently in effect. See Docket No. 65. The 2017 NYRA grants discretionary authority to the Superintendent to administer a state risk adjustment program if "after reviewing the impact of the federal risk adjustment program on the small group health insurance market ... the [S]uperintendent determines that a market stabilization mechanism is a necessary amelioration, the superintendent shall implement a market stabilization pool in such market." 11 NYCRR § 361.9(e). The Superintendent has stated that, barring "extraordinary circumstances", she will exercise her authority under this regulation and seize *48630% of the amount the plaintiffs' receive under the FRAP. Def.'s Rule 56.1 Statement ¶ 53. Counsel for the plaintiffs also stated at oral argument that it was "highly likely" that the Superintendent would exercise such authority. The federal government has announced that it intends to make payments under the FRAP in October 2018, see Docket No. 64-2, and the plaintiffs have only 10 days from receiving payment under the FRAP, or an invoice from the Superintendent, whichever is later, to remit the portion to the State directed by the Superintendent, see 11 NYCRR § 361.9(e)(1)(ii). Accordingly, the plaintiffs have shown that there is a substantial likelihood that they will suffer imminent injury, and the unlawful takings and illegal exactions claims regarding the 2017 NYRA are thus ripe for review.
However, the claims for relief regarding the 2018 NYRA are not ripe for review. While the 2018 NYRA has been adopted on a permanent basis, the Superintendent has not made similar assurances regarding the likelihood of implementation of the 2018 NYRA. HHS also has not announced the adjustments it intends to make under the FRAP or when those adjustments will be made. It is not even clear at this point whether the plaintiffs will receive a payment under the FRAP for the 2018 plan year that would then be subject to the 2018 NYRA. Accordingly, the unlawful takings and illegal exactions claims regarding the 2018 NYRA are thus not ripe for review.
B.
The defendant also argues that, even if the takings claims are ripe, they should be dismissed because the plaintiffs have failed to allege that the 2017 NYRA constitutes an unlawful taking or an illegal exaction.
As an initial matter, it is not unconstitutional for the Superintendent to require insurance companies to pay into a risk adjustment pool to ensure the proper functioning of the health insurance market in the State. The 2017 NYRA serves the rational purpose of ensuring that the insurance markets in the State run efficiently and "prevent[ing] unnecessary instability for carriers participating in the small group health insurance market" in New York. 11 NYCRR § 361.9(b)(2). The regulation setting up the New York State risk adjustment program -- 11 NYCRR Part 361 -- has been upheld by the Appellate Division, Third Department of the New York State Supreme Court as a valid exercise of the Legislature's power to regulate. Colonial Life Ins. Co. of Am. v. Curiale,
The plaintiffs argue that the taking is unconstitutional because they are entitled to receive these funds from the FRAP, and the State is not permitted to take some of those funds to which they are entitled under federal law pursuant to a state risk adjustment program. But this argument simply merges the plaintiffs' takings claims with their preemption claims. As explained above, the 2017 NYRA is not preempted by the ACA, and thus the taking *487of a portion of the funds remitted to the plaintiffs pursuant to the FRAP is not unconstitutional.
Accordingly, the 2017 NYRA does not constitute an unlawful taking or an illegal exaction.
V.
Finally, the defendant argues that the Court should abstain from deciding this case pursuant to the Burford abstention doctrine. Burford v. Sun Oil Co.,
Federal courts have a "virtually unflagging obligation ... to exercise the jurisdiction given them." Colorado River Water Conservation Dist. v. United States,
The resolution of this case does not require the Court to analyze or interpret the intricacies of state insurance law. This case does not require the Court to give one or another debatable construction to a state statute or rely on the administrative expertise of state officers. Bethphage,
Accordingly, Burford abstention should not be applied in this case.
VI.
The plaintiffs have cross-moved for partial summary judgment with respect to Counts I through V of the Complaint, the Counts that challenge the 2017 NYRA
*488based on allegations that the regulation is preempted by the ACA and effects an unconstitutional taking and exaction. The plaintiffs seek a permanent injunction.
The plaintiffs are not entitled to summary judgment or a permanent injunction because the Court has dismissed their claims finding them to be without merit. Because the Court has dismissed all of the plaintiffs' claims as explained above, and there is plainly no actual success on the merits, the plaintiffs' motions for summary judgment and for an injunction are denied.
CONCLUSION
The Court has considered all of the remaining arguments of the parties. To the extent not specifically addressed above, they are either moot or without merit. For the foregoing reasons, the defendant's motion to dismiss is granted and the plaintiffs' motions for partial summary judgment and for an injunction are denied. Counts I-VII are dismissed with prejudice. Counts VIII-X are dismissed without prejudice for lack of jurisdiction.
The Clerk of Court is directed to enter judgment dismissing this action and closing this case. The Clerk is also directed to close all pending motions.
SO ORDERED.
The emergency regulation was reissued on December 7, 2016, March 6, 2017, June 2, 2017, July 31, 2017, September 28, 2017, November 24, 2017, January 22, 2018, March 22, 2018, and May 15, 2018. 11 NYCRR § 361.9.
The parties previously agreed that, should the Superintendent finalize and promulgate a permanent regulation for the 2017 plan year, the regulation shall be deemed challenged as part of the plaintiffs' challenge to the emergency regulation. Docket No. 53.
Because the "[2017 NYRA] and [2018 NYRA] are substantively identical" "[f]or purposes relevant to this lawsuit", Compl. ¶ 73, all of the Court's findings in this opinion with respect to the 2017 NYRA also apply to the 2018 NYRA.
The defendant does not argue that there is an express statutory limitation in the ACA forbidding private citizens from suing to enjoin a state official under Ex Parte Young. The defendant argues only that there is an implied limitation.
The plaintiffs argue that this language comes from the preambles of the proposed rulemakings and therefore has no legal effect. But even if these statements are not legally binding, they still shed light on HHS's understanding of the purposes and effects of the FRAP.
The text of the regulation effective June 18, 2018 entitled "Federally certified risk adjustment methodology" provides: "Any risk adjustment methodology used by a State, or HHS on behalf of the State, must be a Federally certified risk adjustment methodology."
The plaintiffs' claims under
Reference
- Full Case Name
- UNITEDHEALTHCARE OF NEW YORK, INC. v. Maria T. VULLO, in her official capacity as Superintendent of Financial Services of the State of New York
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- Published