Salgado v. Kirschner

OPINION

MARTONE, Justice.

The question before us is whether federal law allows Arizona to deny life-sustaining transplant coverage to an otherwise eligible Medicaid recipient solely because she is over 21 years of age. We hold that it does not.

I. BACKGROUND

Arizona chose to participate in Medicaid, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1396-1396v, a joint state-federal funding program for medical care for the needy. “Although participation in the Medicaid program is entirely optional, once a state elects to participate, it must comply with the requirements of Title XIX.” Harris v. McRae, 448 U.S. 297, 301, 100 S.Ct.…