Gragert v. Lake , 541 F. App'x 853 ( 2013 )

FILED
United States Court of Appeals
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS Tenth Circuit
FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT October 8, 2013
Elisabeth A. Shumaker
Clerk of Court
GEORGE L. GRAGERT,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v. No. 12-6137
(D.C. No. 5:11-CV-00984-C)
ED LAKE, Director of Department of (W.D. of Okla.)
Human Services; JOEL NICO GOMEZ,
Director of Oklahoma Health Care
Authority,
Defendants-Appellees.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT*
Before HARTZ, O’BRIEN, and TYMKOVICH, Circuit Judges.
George Gragert appeals from the grant of summary judgment for defendants
Ed Lake and Joel Gomez, Oklahoma health care officials, in this action challenging
the denial of Medicaid benefits. After the district court granted summary judgment
to the defendants, we decided Morris v. Okla. Dep’t of Human Servs., 685 F.3d 925(10th Cir. 2012), holding that, pursuant to 20 C.F.R. § 416.1201, illiquid assets can
be excluded in determining Medicaid eligibility. In light of Morris, we vacate the
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines
of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for
its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.
district court’s order and remand for proceedings consistent with this order and
judgment.
I. Background
Gragert brought this action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, claiming that the
methodology used by the State to deny him benefits violated the Medicaid Act,
42 U.S.C. § 1396 et seq., and associated federal regulations. The parties are familiar
with the facts, so we set out only the few that are relevant to our analysis.
Gragert requires institutionalization for medical care. Before applying for
Medicaid to cover his care, he and his wife sold a rental house they owned to their
son for $28,800, with his wife receiving a promissory note for that amount plus
interest. Given the Gragerts’ remaining assets, George Gragert can qualify for
Medicaid only if that note does not constitute a family financial “resource” included
among the assets counted in determining whether an applicant and the community
spouse exceed the financial threshold for Medicaid eligibility.
On cross motions for summary judgment, the district court granted summary
judgment for defendants on the resource issue. The district court looked to the
regulatory definition of “resource,” which refers to cash, liquid assets, and property
convertible to cash, 20 C.F.R. § 416.1201(a)(1), and pointed out that promissory
notes are specifically listed as “[e]xamples of resources that are ordinarily liquid,” id.§ 416.1201(b). Stating that Gragert had not offered any evidence to rebut this
regulatory presumption, the district court concluded that the note was a resource,
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rendering Gragert ineligible for the requested benefits. On appeal, Gragert contends
he presented enough evidence to show that the note was not a resource, so he should
have prevailed on the issue under controlling law.
II. Analysis
Actions challenging adverse Medicaid decisions as contrary to federal law are
often brought under § 1983, as is the case here. See, e.g., Morris, 685 F.3d at 928;
Houghton ex rel. Houghton v. Reinertson, 382 F.3d 1162, 1164 (10th Cir. 2004). But
§ 1983 is not available to challenge every Medicaid decision; its availability turns on
whether, under the relevant provision of Medicaid law, “Congress intended to confer
individual rights upon a class of beneficiaries.” Hobbs ex rel. Hobbs v. Zenderman,
579 F.3d 1171, 1179 (10th Cir. 2009) (quoting Gonzaga Univ. v. Doe, 536 U.S. 273,
285 (2002)); see also id. at 1181-83; Harris v. Owens, 264 F.3d 1282, 1288 n.3 (10th
Cir. 2001).
Gragert bases his cause of action on alleged violations of three Medicaid
statutes, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1396a(a)(10)(C)(i)(III), 1396a(r)(2)(A), and 1396p(c)(1)(I).
But whether § 1983 is available for a challenge based on these Medicaid provisions
has not been resolved in this circuit. See Lemmons v. Lake, No. CIV-12-1075-C,
2013 WL 1187840, at *3 (W.D. Okla. Mar. 21, 2013) (concluding that all three
Medicaid statutes on which Gragert relies may not support an action under § 1983).
The agency raised this issue below, but the district court did not reach it because the
court disposed of this case on another ground, namely whether the promissory note is
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a resource under Medicaid regulations. Given this procedural posture, on remand,
the district court may consider the parties’ other grounds for summary judgment.
We now turn to the promissory note at issue here.
A. Medicaid Provisions
By passing the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988 (MCCA),
Congress sought to protect community spouses from “pauperization” while also
preventing financially secure couples from unnecessarily obtaining Medicaid
assistance. Morris, 685 F.3d at 929 (citing H.R. Rep. No. 100-105, pt. 2, at 65
(1987)); see also Lopes v. Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 696 F.3d 180, 188 (2d Cir. 2012).
Congress directed that a couple’s combined resources are counted in determining
Medicaid eligibility for an institutionalized spouse, 42 U.S.C. § 1396r-5(c)(2)(A), but
the income of the community spouse is not included, id. § 1396r-5(b)(1). See Morris,
685 F.3d at 930. Further, “a couple may convert joint resources—which may affect
Medicaid eligibility—into income for the community spouse—which does not impact
eligibility—by purchasing certain types of [income generating investments].” Id. at
928; see also Lopes, 696 F.3d at 188 (holding nontransferable annuity for community
spouse was not countable resource); James v. Richman, 547 F.3d 214, 218-19 (3d
Cir. 2008) (same).
The MCCA directs that in determining Medicaid eligibility, state agencies
must use criteria that are “‘no more restrictive’ than the eligibility requirements
under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Act.” Houghton, 382 F.3d at 1170
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(quoting 42 U.S.C. § 1396a(r)(2)(A)); see also Lopes, 696 F.3d at 182-83 (noting the
same directive in 42 U.S.C. § 1396a(a)(10)(C)(i)); James, 547 F.3d at 218 (same).
Thus, the SSI regulation that defines what constitutes a resource, 20 C.F.R.
§ 416.1201, properly guides the analysis here. See Lopes, 696 F.3d at 183; James,
547 F.3d at 218; see also Morris, 685 F.3d at 930, 932-33. Under that regulation,
“[i]f the individual has the right, authority or power to liquidate the property . . . , it
is considered a resource,” but if not, “the property will not be considered a resource.”
20 C.F.R. § 416.1201(a)(1). Property is “liquid” and thus a “resource” if it “can be
converted to cash within 20 days.” Id. § 416.1201(b).
In addition to its regulations, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has
issued a Program Operations Manual System (POMS) “through which [it] further
construes the statutes governing its operations.” Lopes, 696 F.3d at 186 (internal
quotation marks omitted; alteration incorporated). Consistent with 20 C.F.R.
§ 416.1201, the relevant POMS provision states that “assets of any kind are not
resources if the individual does not have . . . the legal right, authority, or power to
liquidate them.” POMS § SI 01110.15 (effective April 18, 2011).1
1
POMS “are not products of formal rulemaking” entitled to Chevron deference,
but “they nevertheless warrant respect” under the broader Skidmore framework.
Wash. State Dep’t of Soc. & Health Servs. v. Guardianship Estate of Keffeler, 537
U.S. 371, 385-86 (2003) (citing Skidmore v. Swift & Co., 323 U.S. 134, 139-40
(1944)); see United States v. Mead Corp., 533 U.S. 218, 226-27, 234-35 (2001)
(discussing Skidmore and Chevron, U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Res. Def. Council, Inc.,
467 U.S. 837 (1984)); see also James, 547 F.3d at 218 n.2. And as interpretations of
the SSA’s own regulations, POMS are “controlling unless plainly erroneous or
(continued)
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B. Promissory Note
Gragert argues that the note is illiquid because it cannot be converted to cash.
The district court ruled against Gragert, saying,
[T]he Court must determine if the note is a resource. . . .
Paragraph (b) of [20 C.F.R. § 416.1201] notes that a
promissory note is typically considered a resource. Here,
Plaintiff has offered no evidence to contradict this
presumption. Because the note creates a resource in an
amount in excess of the eligibility threshold, Plaintiff is
not eligible for Medicaid. With this determination, it is
unnecessary to consider the remainder of Plaintiff’s
arguments.
App. 321.
But Gragert contends the promissory note itself is evidence that adequately
rebuts the regulatory presumption. He points out that the promissory note is not
convertible to cash because the note expressly provides that the lender, his wife, may
not “grant, bargain, sell, assign, convey or transfer this note or any payments
hereunder.”2 Id. at 283. In addition, before the district court, Gragert submitted an
expert’s report which stated that the note could not “be sold on any secondary
inconsistent with the regulation.” Auer v. Robbins, 519 U.S. 452, 461 (1997)
(internal quotation marks omitted); see also Reutter ex rel. Reutter v. Barnhart, 372
F.3d 946, 951 (8th Cir. 2004).
2
This provision does permit assignment “for estate planning purposes to a
revocable trust,” but only where the lender is the settlor and the trust itself “may not
further grant, bargain, sell, assign, convey or transfer this note or any payments
hereunder in any way.” App. 283. Defendants do not argue, nor do we find, that this
circumscribed exception to the prohibition on transfer has any effect on the analysis
here.
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market” and thus had “no value in the hands of a third party or in the secondary
market.” Id. at 296. And the defendants offer no evidence to rebut this conclusion
that the promissory note cannot be converted to cash.3
As we stated in Morris, 20 C.F.R. § 416.1201 provides the operable
definition of a “resource”—i.e., property that can be liquidated. The district court
correctly observed that, under this regulation, promissory notes “are ordinarily
liquid.” Id. § 416.1201(b) (emphasis added). But that is because promissory notes
are ordinarily transferable and hence convertible to cash. If a promissory note cannot
be transferred, as appears to be the case here, then it is not convertible to cash and
therefore not a resource. Indeed, POMS indicate that notes count as resources for
eligibility purposes unless there is “evidence of a legal bar to the[ir] sale.” POMS SI
01140.300 at D-1, D-3 (effective May 22, 2003).
The note at issue here—which expressly prohibits the lender from assigning,
transferring, or selling it or any payments thereunder—differs from its ordinary
counterpart in precisely this respect. Because the note here cannot be converted to
3
Instead, the agency offers an alternative basis for affirming the district court’s
decision. It contends that Gragert failed to submit any evidence at the state
administrative level showing the note at issue was not a resource, so Gragert should
have been barred from offering the expert’s report to support his case in the district
court. This contention is wrong if a private right of action stands under § 1983
(which we take no position on here), since there is no constitutional requirement that
administrative hearing procedures be used at all, Houghton, 382 F.3d at 1167 n.3;
Roach v. Morse, 440 F.3d 53, 56-58 (2d Cir. 2006), much less that an exclusive
evidentiary record be developed administratively. And in any event, Gragert did
submit to the state agency evidence showing that the note was not a resource—the
note itself.
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cash and thus is illiquid, under 20 C.F.R. § 416.1201, the note is not a resource. Cf.
Roach v. Morse, 440 F.3d 53, 59-60 (2d Cir. 2006) (stating that a non-assignable
informal loan is not a resource under this regulation and the related POMS).
Case law applying the convertible-to-cash rule to similar income-generating
financial agreements also supports this conclusion. For instance, in Lopes and
James, the Second and Third Circuits rejected the state agency’s contention that non-
assignable annuities were countable resources rather than non-countable income,
holding that the contractual prohibition on transfers precluded their treatment as
resources under § 416.1201. Lopes, 696 F.3d at 184-88; James, 547 F.3d at 218-19.
Our own precedent is in accord. In Morris, we held that an annuity, which by
its own terms could not be transferred or sold, was mere income that did not count as
a resource for purposes of Medicaid eligibility—even though, we acknowledged, this
rule created a “loophole” in the Medicaid statutes. Morris, 685 F.3d at 928, 930,
932-33.4 And at least one lower court has treated a nontransferable promissory note
in the same way. See Lemmons, 2013 WL 1187840, at *4 (concluding a promissory
note is not convertible into cash within 20 days—and thus is not a resource per
4
Our Morris decision did not go as far as Lopes and James in at least one
respect. We left open the question whether a nontransferable income-generating
agreement might still be treated as a resource if the income stream could be resold.
See Morris, 685 F.3d at 933 n.5. But we need not take a definitive position on the
matter here since the note at issue not only prohibits transfer but also expressly
prohibits the sale or transfer “of any payments [t]hereunder.” App. 283.
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§ 416.1201—because the note’s terms prohibited either party from transferring the
note or any of its payments in any way—just like the note here).
In sum, the ruling on summary judgment does not square with our subsequent
decision in Morris, so we remand. But this decision does not preclude the district
court from considering other issues previously raised below that could affect the
outcome of this case—including, but not limited to, whether Gragert is asserting a
right enforceable by § 1983.
III. Conclusion
The judgment of the district court is VACATED and the case is REMANDED
for further proceedings consistent with this order and judgment.5
ENTERED FOR THE COURT
Timothy M. Tymkovich
Circuit Judge
5
We grant the Motion To Take Judicial Notice of Development Not Before the
District Court and/or To Supplement the Record.
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