Memorial Hermann Hospital v. Sebelius
Filing
28
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER (Signed by Judge Nancy F. Atlas) Parties notified.(sashabranner, )
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
HOUSTON DIVISION
MEMORIAL HERMANN
HOSPITAL,
Plaintiff,
v.
KATHLEEN SEBELIUS,
Secretary of Health and Human
Services,
Defendant.
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§
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
CIVIL ACTION NO. H-11-2771
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This challenge to a final decision of the Secretary of Health and Human
Services is before the Court on the Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. # 22] filed
by Plaintiff Memorial Hermann Hospital and the Cross-Motion for Summary
Judgment [Doc. # 23] filed by Defendant Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and
Human Services (“HHS”). Plaintiff filed a Response [Doc. # 25] to Defendant’s
Motion for Summary Judgment, and Defendant filed a Reply [Doc. # 26]. The Court
has reviewed the administrative record and applied persuasive legal authorities,
particularly those from various federal appellate courts. The Court denies Plaintiff’s
Motion for Summary Judgment and grants Defendant’s Motion for Summary
Judgment.
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I.
BACKGROUND
Medicare providers are entitled under the Social Security Act to reimbursement
for the “reasonable cost” of furnishing Medicare services, including “an appropriate
allowance for depreciation on buildings and equipment used in the provision of patient
care.” See 42 C.F.R. § 413.134(a). The appropriate allowance for such depreciation
is determined by prorating the “historical cost” of the asset (which is “the cost
incurred by the present owner in acquiring the asset”) “over the estimated useful life
of the asset.” 42 C.F.R. § 413.134(a), (b). Recognizing that this method provides
only an approximation of the actual depreciation, the regulations allow (or require)
adjustment in certain circumstances. See Forsyth Memorial Hosp., Inc. v. Sebelius,
639 F.3d 534, 536 (D.C. Cir. 2011).
The regulations provide that a merger between two or more unrelated
corporations is a circumstance in which the depreciated assets may be revalued. See
42 C.F.R. § 413.134(l)(2)(i). “If the merged corporation was a provider before the
merger, then it is subject to the provisions of paragraphs (d)(3) and (f) of this section
concerning recovery of accelerated depreciation and the realization of gains and
losses.” Id. If the merger is between two or more related corporations, no revaluation
of assets is allowed. See 42 C.F.R. § 413.134(l)(2)(ii).
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To address the application of § 413.134(l) to non-profit providers, the Centers
for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a Program Memorandum, PM A00-76, in October 2000. In PM A-00-76, the CMS noted that non-profit providers are
often motivated to engage in mergers for reasons that may differ from the traditional
for-profit merger. See PM A-00-76. Specifically, mergers involving non-profit
providers are often driven more by the charitable interests of the provider and the
interests of the community at large than by the interest of the provider in obtaining
maximum value for its assets. Id. As a result, the Secretary, through the CMS,
interpreted § 413.134(l) as requiring mergers to involve the equivalent of a bona fide
sale.
Hermann Hospital (“Hermann”) began operations as a charitable hospital in
1925, operated by Hermann Hospital Estates, a testamentary trust established under
the will of George H. Hermann.
Hermann and Memorial Hospital System
(“Memorial”) merged on November 4, 1997. Memorial acquired Hermann’s assets
and assumed its liabilities. The merged entity, Plaintiff in this lawsuit, requested a
depreciation adjustment in the amount of $21,731,800.00, on behalf of Hermann. The
“Intermediary” for the Secretary of HHS (“Secretary”)1 concluded that Hermann and
1
The Secretary “contracts out Medicare’s payment and audit functions to fiscal
intermediaries, who initially determine whether and how much to reimburse a
provider of services under Medicare.” Via Christi Regional Med. Ctr., Inc. v. Leavitt,
509 F.3d 1259, 1261 (10th Cir. 2007) (citing 42 U.S.C. § 1395h).
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Memorial, although unrelated before the merger, were not entitled to the depreciation
adjustment because they were related after the merger.
Hermann requested review by the Provider Reimbursement Review Board
(“PRRB”) in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 1395oo(a). The PRRB rejected the
Intermediary’s reliance on the “related party” requirement in PM A-00-76. The PRRB
held that the regulation could not reasonably be interpreted to require that the parties
remain unrelated after the merger. The PRRB rejected Hermann’s request for a
depreciation adjustment, however, based on the “bona fide sale” requirement in PM
A-00-76.
The Administrator of the CMS upheld the PRRB’s decision on the bona fide
sale issue, but reversed the PRRB’s decision on the related party issue. The
Administrator’s decision constitutes the final decision of the Secretary. See 42 U.S.C.
§ 1395oo(f).
Plaintiff filed this lawsuit under the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”),
seeking judicial review of the Secretary’s decision. The parties filed cross-motions
for summary judgment, which are now ripe for review.
II.
APPLICABLE LEGAL STANDARDS UNDER APA
The Court reviews the Secretary’s decision under the APA, which provides that
the agency action may be overturned only “if it is arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of
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discretion, not in accordance with law, or unsupported by substantial evidence on the
record taken as a whole.” Buffalo Marine Servs. v. United States, 663 F.3d 750, 753
(5th Cir. 2011) (quoting Tex. Clinical Labs, Inc. v. Sebelius, 612 F.3d 771, 775 (5th
Cir. 2010)). The reviewing court begins with “a presumption that the agency’s
decision is valid, and the plaintiff has the burden to overcome that presumption by
showing that the decision was erroneous.” Id.
The agency’s findings of fact must be upheld if they are supported by
substantial evidence. See id. (citing Alwan v. Ashcroft, 388 F.3d 507, 510-11 (5th Cir.
2004)). Substantial evidence is “such relevant evidence as a responsible mind might
accept to support a conclusion. It is more than a mere scintilla and less than a
preponderance.” Harris v. Apfel, 209 F.3d 413, 417 (5th Cir. 2000). The Secretary’s
findings, if supported by substantial evidence, “shall be conclusive.” Windsor Place
v. U. S. Dept. of Health and Human Servs., 649 F.3d 293, 297 (5th Cir. 2011); 42
U.S.C. § 1320a-7a(e).
“The agency’s legal conclusions are reviewed de novo, except for questions of
statutory interpretation, where the court owes ‘substantial deference to an agency’s
construction of a statute that it administers.’” Buffalo Marine, 663 F.3d at 753
(quoting Alwan, 388 F.3d at 511 (citing Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Res. Def.
Council, Inc., 467 U.S. 837, 842 (1984))). The scope of judicial review is narrow, and
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the reviewing court “is not to substitute its judgment for that of the agency.” Hasie
v. Office of Comptroller of Currency, 633 F.3d 361, 365 (5th Cir. 2011).
III.
“RELATED PARTIES” ISSUE
The assets of a merged corporation can be revalued if the merger “is between
two or more corporations that are unrelated (as specified in § 413.17) . . ..” See
42 C.F.R. § 413.134(l)(2)(i). Section 413.17 defines “related to the provider” to mean
“that the provider to a significant extent is associated or affiliated with or has control
of or is controlled by the organization furnishing the services, facilities, or supplies.”
42 C.F.R. § 413.17(b)(1). “Control” for purposes of § 413.17 means that the
corporation “has the power, directly or indirectly, significantly to influence or direct
the actions or policies of an organization or institution.” 42 C.F.R. § 413.17(b)(3).
The Secretary in PM A-00-76 states that the “fact that the parties are unrelated
before the transaction does not bar a related organizations finding as a result of the
transaction. That is, it is appropriate to compare the governing board/management
team composition after the transaction, even though there was no contemporaneous
coexistence of those boards/teams.” PM A-00-76. Thus, the Secretary interprets the
“related parties” provision of § 413.134(l) to require that the parties to a merger be
unrelated both before and after the merger. See UPMC-Braddock Hosp. v. Sebelius,
592 F.3d 427, 435 (3rd Cir. 2010).
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The only courts of appeals to address this issue have all held that the Secretary’s
interpretation of the “related parties” requirement is contrary to the regulation’s plain
meaning. See UPMC-Braddock, 592 F.3d 427 (3rd Cir. 2010); Via Christi Regional
Med. Ctr. v. Leavitt, 509 F.3d 1259 (10th Cir. 2007). As noted by the Third Circuit
in its well-reasoned decision, “the only permissible reading of [§ 413.134(l)(2)(i)] is
that “between” means “pre-merger.” The Third and Tenth Circuits held that the plain
language of the regulation “indicates that the ‘related parties’ inquiry focuses solely
on whether the parties to the [merger] were related prior to the transaction – not on
whether they were related to the newly created entity.” See UPMC-Braddock, 592
F.3d at 437; Via Christi, 509 F.3d at 1273. The Third Circuit noted specifically that
the “language about relatedness only refers to the parties to the merger . . . not to the
corporation that results from the merger.” UPMC-Braddock, 592 F.3d at 438. A
corporation formed as the result of a merger “is not a party to the merger; it is the
surviving corporation.” Id.
The Third Circuit noted that the Secretary’s interpretation “defies common
sense.” Id. “In merger transactions, the resulting or surviving corporation will, as a
practical matter, be controlled by one or both of the merging parties. It is hard to
imagine a scenario where this would not be the case. Adherence to the Secretary’s
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view would render the loss adjustment unavailable in most if not all merger situations,
regulating it out of existence.” Id.
The Court agrees with the Third and Tenth Circuits to conclude that the
Secretary’s interpretation of the “related parties” language in § 413.134 is contrary to
the regulation’s plain language. The only relevant inquiry is whether the parties were
related (as specified in § 413.17) before the merger. In this case, it is undisputed that
Hermann and Memorial were unrelated prior to the merger. As a result, the Court
concludes that the decision of the Secretary that the merger failed to satisfy the
requirement that the parties to the merger be unrelated is unsupported by the law, and
is arbitrary and capricious.
IV.
“BONA FIDE SALE” ISSUE
Mergers between unrelated parties are “subject to the provisions of paragraphs
(d)(3) and (f) . . . concerning recovery of accelerated depreciation and the realization
of gains and losses.” 42 C.F.R. § 413.134(l)(2)(i); see also St. Luke’s Hosp. v.
Sebelius, 611 F.3d 900, 902 (D.C. Cir. 2010); Robert F. Kennedy Med. Ctr. v. Leavitt,
526 F.3d 557, 559 (9th Cir. 2008); Via Christi, 509 F.3d at 1274. Paragraph (f)
specifies the circumstances in which gains or losses are allowable following a disposal
of depreciable assets. See 42 C.F.R. § 413.134(f); Kennedy, 526 F.3d at 559. The
Secretary has interpreted these regulations to require that revaluation of depreciation
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is permitted following a statutory merger only where the merger qualifies as a “bona
fide sale” under § 413.134(f)(2). Kennedy, 526 F.3d at 559 (citing PM A-00-76).
The Secretary has interpreted “bona fide sale” to mean “an arm’s length
transaction between a willing and well informed buyer and seller, neither being under
coercion, for reasonable consideration.” Kennedy, 526 F.3d at 559 (citing Provider
Reimbursement Manual § 104.24). PM A-00-76 provides that “in evaluating whether
a bona fide sale has occurred in the context of a merger or consolidation between or
among non-profit entities, a comparison of the sales price with the fair market value
of the assets acquired is a required aspect of such analysis.” Id. at 560 (quoting PM
A-00-76). “In the context of a statutory merger between Medicare providers, ‘a large
disparity between the sales price (consideration) and the fair market value of the assets
sold indicates the lack of a bona fide sale.’” Id.
Plaintiff challenges the Secretary’s interpretation of the regulation as requiring,
in the context of a merger, the equivalent of a bona fide sale. Plaintiff argues that the
interpretation is a substantive rule that requires the Secretary to provide notice and a
period for public comment. Plaintiff argues also that the interpretation requiring a
bona fide sale is contrary to the language in the proposed rule and to language in the
final rule.
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Plaintiff further challenges the Secretary’s interpretation of the meaning of
“bona fide sale,” arguing that it improperly changes the prior definition of “bona fide
sale” to require “reasonable consideration” rather than simply “valuable
consideration.” Plaintiff argues also that the use of a “cost approach” for determining
whether there has been reasonable consideration improperly deprives the decisionmaker of any discretion.
All courts of appeal to address these two issues have upheld the Secretary’s
interpretations as reasonable and entitled to deference. See Forsyth Memorial Hosp.
v. Sebelius, 639 F.3d 534 (D.C. Cir. 2011); St. Luke’s Hosp. v. Sebelius, 611 F.3d 900
(D.C. Cir. 2010); Albert Einstein Med. Ctr. v. Sebelius, 566 F.3d 368 (3rd Cir. 2009);
Robert F. Kennedy Med. Ctr. v. Leavitt, 526 F.3d 557 (9th Cir. 2008); Via Christi
Regional Med. Ctr. v. Leavitt, 509 F.3d 1259 (10th Cir. 2007). This Court agrees.
A.
“Bona Fide Sale” Required
The regulation governing mergers makes explicit reference to § 413.134(f),
which lists the categories of asset disposal that trigger depreciation readjustment. See
St. Luke’s, 611 F.3d at 905; Albert Einstein, 566 F.3d at 376; Kennedy, 526 F.3d at
562. Indeed, as noted by the Tenth Circuit, “Section 413.134(f) is the only section
expressly permitting depreciation adjustments and defining the exact circumstances
under which a provider can seek such an adjustment.” Via Christi, 509 F.3d at 1274
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(emphasis in original). Section 413.134(l) contains no language that would allow a
merging party to recognize a gain or loss, but instead incorporates the provisions of
§ 413.134(f) concerning recovery of accelerated depreciation and the realization of
gains and losses. “The Secretary reasonably read this unrestricted cross-reference to
subsection (f) as incorporating subsection (f)(2)’s requirement that a transaction be
‘bona fide’ if the provider is to revalue the assets it transfers therein.” St. Luke’s, 611
F.3d at 905. This Court finds the reasoning and decisions from these courts of appeals
to be persuasive.
Plaintiff argues that the Secretary’s interpretation is a substantive rule that
required formal notice and comment rulemaking under the APA. This argument was
rejected by the Third Circuit in Albert Einstein, and this Court agrees with that Court’s
analysis and decision. After discussing the distinction between “legislative rules”
(which require compliance with the notice and comment requirements of the APA)
and “interpretive rules” (which are exempt from the APA’s requirements), the Third
Circuit held that the Secretary’s interpretation as set forth in PM A-00-76 in an
interpretive rule that did not require notice and comment rulemaking.
Plaintiff argues also that the Secretary’s interpretation is inconsistent with prior
statements, including language in the proposed rule, language in the preamble to the
final rule, and prior decisions by the PRRB. The Court is unpersuaded by these
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arguments. The proposed rule stated that a provider corporation to a merger is
“subject to those health insurance program policies applicable to terminated providers
(e.g. see paragraphs (d)(3) and (f) of this section).” 42 FED. REG. 17,486 (Apr. 1,
1977). The final rule, however, contained different language providing that the
merged corporation is “subject to the provisions of paragraphs (d)(3) and (f) of this
section concerning recovery of accelerated depreciation and the realization of gains
and losses.” 42 C.F.R. § 413.134(l). The final rule provides an unrestricted
incorporation of paragraph (f) that is not limited to its provisions regarding
“terminated providers” but, instead, incorporates all of paragraph (f) that relates to
recovery of accelerated depreciation and the realization of gains and losses. The
Secretary’s interpretation of the final rule is reasonable and consistent with the
language of the final rule.
Plaintiff argues that the Secretary’s interpretation of § 413.134(l) is refuted by
the preamble to the final rule, in which the Secretary used the term “bona fide
transaction” when referring to mergers. The Court is unpersuaded by this argument.
Although a merger is a “transaction” that is not technically a “sale,” “treating it as a
sale pursuant to § 413.134(f)(2) ensures that any depreciation adjustment will
represent economic reality, rather than mere ‘paper losses.’” Via Christi, 509 F.3d at
1275.
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Plaintiff cites various earlier PRRB decisions in other cases in which the PRRB
rejected the Secretary’s interpretation of § 413.134(l) as requiring compliance with the
“bona fide sale” requirement of § 413.134(f). The earlier PRRB decisions cited by
Plaintiff are inconsistent with the PRRB decision in this case, as well as the decisions
of all four courts of appeals to consider the issue.2
The Secretary’s interpretation of § 413.134(l) is not, as Plaintiff argues,
inconsistent with prior agency statements and is, instead, “in keeping with the
underlying policy of the Medicare Act.” Albert Einstein, 566 F.3d at 381. The
Secretary’s interpretation is consistent with the language of the regulations, and is a
reasonable construction of them. As a result, the Secretary’s interpretation is entitled
to deference.
B.
“Bona Fide Sale” Defined
The Secretary has defined “bona fide sale” to require both “arm’s length
bargaining [including] an attempt to maximize any sale price” and “reasonable
consideration.” See Via Christi, 509 F.3d at 1275. The Tenth Circuit in Via Christi
concluded that the Secretary’s definition was entitled to deference because it “is
consistent with the regulations and early interpretive materials.” Id. The Ninth
2
Indeed, the PRRB’s decision in this case appears to have been influenced
(appropriately) by the courts of appeals’ decisions rejecting the PRRB’s earlier
different reasoning.
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Circuit reached the same conclusion, finding that the definition “is supported by the
text and purpose of the Medicare statutes” and noting specifically that “Providers are
entitled to reimbursement only for the ‘cost actually incurred’ in servicing Medicare
patients.” Kennedy, 526 F.3d at 562. The District of Columbia Circuit similarly held
that the Secretary’s interpretation is reasonable because “[f]air market value is a
hallmark of a bona fide transaction.” St. Luke’s, 611 F.3d at 905. Therefore, it is
“logical to infer” that “a ‘large disparity’ between the assets’ purchase price and their
fair market value indicates the underlying transaction is not in fact bona fide.” Id.
“Requiring a ‘reasonable’ sale price, which reflects real market value, yields a gain
or loss figure that approximates the actual gain or loss the provider has incurred since
acquiring the asset.” Id. The Court finds the analysis in these cases is persuasive, and
concludes that the Secretary’s definition of “bona fide sale” is reasonable and entitled
to deference.
Plaintiff argues that the Secretary’s definition was a substantive change. The
District of Columbia Circuit rejected this argument in St. Luke’s, finding that the
definition was not inconsistent with prior HHS authorities. See St. Luke’s, 611 F.3d
at 906. While many prior cases were determined by the PRRB using a less restrictive
definition of “bona fide sale,” Plaintiff has not identified a case authorizing
reimbursement where there was a “large disparity” between the consideration and the
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fair market value of the depreciable assets. As the Third Circuit noted, at least as early
as 1982, the Secretary “looked to the fair market value when conducting the bona fide
sale inquiry.” See Albert Einstein, 566 F.3d at 377 (citing Hosp. Affiliates Int’l., Inc.
v. Schweiker, 543 F. Supp. 1380, 1389 (D. Tenn. 1982)).
The Court agrees with the District of Columbia, Third, Ninth and Tenth Circuits
to conclude that the Secretary’s definition of “bona fide sale” to require both arm’s
length bargaining, including an attempt to maximize the sales price, and reasonable
consideration is entitled to deference.
C.
“Substantial Evidence” Supporting Secretary’s Decision
The Provider applying for a depreciation adjustment bears the burden to prove
that a bona fide sale occurred. See Forsyth, 639 F.3d at 539 (citing, inter alia, 42
U.S.C. § 1395g(a); 42 C.F.R. § 413.24(a)). The Administrator found that Plaintiff
failed to prove both arm’s length bargaining to obtain a maximum price and
reasonable consideration paid for the depreciated assets. As noted previously, the
Secretary’s decision must be upheld if supported by substantial evidence. “Substantial
evidence” is less than a preponderance of the evidence, and the introduction of
conflicting evidence by Plaintiff does not negate the existence of substantial evidence
supporting the Administrator’s decision. See Harris v. Apfel, 209 F.3d 413, 417 (5th
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Cir. 2000). The Court has carefully reviewed the record and concludes that substantial
evidence supports the Secretary’s final decision.
1.
Arm’s Length Bargaining
The Administrator found that the consideration for the assets acquired through
the merger between Hermann and Memorial was not the result of arm’s length
bargaining because Hermann’s “primary concern” was to further its mission of
operating as a hospital for the benefit of the poor, indigent, and infirm residents of the
City of Houston. The Administrator noted also that Hermann’s focus on ensuring the
post-merger existence of the Hospital consistent with that mission “was paramount to
the detriment of arriving at the best price for the sale of the depreciable assets.” See
Administrator’s Decision, Administrative Record (“AR”) at 000021.
The Administrator’s decision is supported by substantial evidence in the record.
There is evidence in the record indicating that Hermann was not motivated to gain
maximum value for the depreciable assets but was, instead, motivated to ensure that
the hospital continued to operate in a manner consistent with its original charitable
purpose. Most compelling is the Final Judgment entered by the Probate Court of
Harris County approving the merger. The Probate Court noted that the “dominant
purpose of the Testator . . . was to provide for the construction, maintenance and
operation of the Hospital to serve the poor, indigent and infirm residents of the City
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of Houston.” See Final Judgment, AR at 001258. The Probate Court found also that
the Trustees’ had a fiduciary duty to maintain “the Hospital with respect to charity
care and community benefits in the rapidly changing and emerging health care
environment.” See id., AR at 001260. The Probate Court found that the Trustees, in
the exercise of their fiduciary duties, had “undertaken an extensive review of Hermann
Hospital and how it can best fulfill the intent and purpose of the Testator and the
charitable mission of the Trust in the current health care environment” and that the
Trustees had “researched various courses of action designed to ensure the future
viability of Hermann Hospital and its ability to continue the Trust’s mission and to
carry out the intent of the Testator.” See id., AR at 1260-61. The Probate Court found
that a failure to approve the merger “would substantially impair the accomplishment
of the intent of the Testator and the purposes of the Trust.” Id., AR at 001261.
Finding that the merger would further the intent “of continuing the maintenance and
operation of Hermann Hospital into the future as a hospital for the benefit of the poor,
indigent, and infirm residents of the City of Houston,” the Probate Court approved the
merger. See id., AR at 001261.
There is substantial evidence that the merger terms were not the result of arm’s
length bargaining with the goal of obtaining maximum consideration for Hermann’s
depreciable assets. There is no evidence that the parties’ negotiations were focused
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on arriving at a fair market price for Hermann’s assets. The evidence shows that
Hermann was motivated, instead, to ensure the continued operation of the hospital as
a health care facility for the poor, indigent, and infirm residents of Houston as
intended by the Testator. There is nothing wrong with such motivation; indeed, it is
laudable. It is substantial evidence, however, “that the parties did not negotiate the
terms of the merger at arm’s length.” See Albert Einstein, 566 F.3d at 379; see also
Via Christi, 509 F.3d at 1276 (noting that provider’s “primary goal was to make a
decision that would advance its ministry”).
2.
Reasonable Consideration
The Administrator found that the merger did not involve the exchange of
reasonable consideration for Hermann’s depreciable assets because there was a large
disparity between the value of the assets transferred in connection with the merger and
the consideration received for those assets. The Administrator’s decision is supported
by substantial evidence in the record.
More specifically, in accordance with PM A-00-76, the Administrator compared
the value of Hermann’s assets transferred in connection with the merger with the
consideration exchanged for those assets. The uncontroverted total net book value of
the assets was approximately $755.5 million, and the undisputed value of the
liabilities assumed was approximately $373 million. Based on the “large disparity”
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between the value of the assets and the consideration exchanged for them, the
Administrator concluded that there was no bona fide sale.
Plaintiff argued for the value of the assets to be adjusted down to $490 million,
based primarily on the inclusion of almost $331 million in limited use assets. Even
accepting Plaintiff’s argument and ignoring the entire $331 million in limited use
assets, the book value of the assets still exceeded the consideration by almost $72
million. This is significantly more than the disparities that supported a finding of no
“reasonable consideration” in Via Christi, 509 F.3d at 1277 ($3 million disparity),
Kennedy, 526 F.3d at 563 ($19.5 million), and Albert Einstein, 566 F.3d at 379 ($32
million).
Plaintiff argued also that the value of Hermann as a “going concern” was
significantly less than its book value. The Administrator rejected this argument,
noting that it was inconsistent with the Medicare requirement that the actual book
value of the assets be the primary focus. The Administrator noted that the revaluation
in issue is a revaluation of depreciable assets.
Citing to PM A-00-76, the
Administrator correctly concluded that, in circumstances such as this where there has
not been an appraisal, the best means of determining the fair market value of those
assets for purposes of the Medicare Act is the cost approach analysis because it is the
only method that produces a discrete indication of the value of those individual assets.
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Alternate methods, such as the “market approach” and the “income approach,”
produce a valuation of the business as a whole, rather that a valuation of the individual
assets at issue.
The Administrator’s decision that the merger did not involve the exchange of
reasonable consideration is supported by substantial evidence in the administrative
record, specifically the large disparity between the fair market value of the assets,
even eliminating limited use assets, and the consideration exchanged for those assets.3
As a result, the Administrator’s decision that the merger did not constitute a bona fide
sale is upheld.
V.
CONCLUSION AND ORDER
The Secretary has interpreted the “related parties” language for purposes of
§ 413.134(l)(2) as requiring that the parties to a merger be unrelated both before and
after the merger. The plain language of the regulations and common sense make it
clear that the “related parties” inquiry is relevant only as to the parties’ status prior to
3
Plaintiff argues that the reasonableness of the consideration is established by the Final
Judgment of the Probate Court finding that the Trustees complied with their fiduciary
duties. As discussed above, it is clear from the Final Judgment that the fiduciary duty
at issue was the Trustees’ obligation to maintain the operation of Hermann as a
charitable hospital. There was no discussion regarding whether the Trustees
attempted to maximize the consideration paid for the hospital’s assets. As a result,
the Court finds this argument unpersuasive.
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the merger, not after the merger is completed.
Accordingly, the Secretary’s
interpretation is contrary to the clear language of the regulation.
The Secretary has interpreted the regulations regarding mergers as to contain
a “bona fide sale” element, and has interpreted “bona fide sale” to require “reasonable
consideration” based on a comparison of the sales price with the fair market value of
the assets acquired. Based on the persuasive legal authority from the Courts of
Appeals for the District of Columbia, Third, Ninth and Tenth Circuits, the Court
concludes that this interpretation is reasonable. The administrative record contains
substantial evidence to support the Secretary’s finding that the merger between
Hermann and Memorial did not involve arm’s length bargaining or reasonable
consideration. As a result, the merger did not involve a bona fide sale for which the
revaluation of depreciation is permitted. As a result, it is hereby
ORDERED that Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. # 22] is
DENIED and Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. # 23] is
GRANTED. The Court will issue a separate Final Order.
SIGNED at Houston, Texas, this 31st day of July, 2012.
P:\ORDERS\11-2011\2771MsSJ.wpd
120731.1629
21
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