MAINE COMMUNITY HEALTH OPTIONS, Petitioner (No. 18-1023) v. UNITED STATES, 590 U.S. 296

Summary

HOLDINGS: [1]-Insurers who claimed losses under 42 U.S.C.S. § 18062 had a right to payment and a damages remedy for the unpaid amounts; [2]-Section 18062 created a government obligation to pay insurers the full amount set out in the statute's formula as it imposed a legal duty on the United States that matured into a legal liability through the insurers' participation in the healthcare exchanges, and the statute's plain terms created an obligation neither contingent on nor limited by the availability of appropriations; [3]-Congress had not impliedly repealed the obligations through appropriation riders as they did not include any words indicating any purpose other than disbursing a sum of money for the fiscal years; [4]-The insurers properly relied on the Tucker Act to sue for damages as § 18062 mandated compensation for damages and neither Tucker Act exception applied.