New York v. Shalala

143 F.3d 119

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
• Decided: June 4, 1998
• Docket: No. 97-6226
• Status: Published

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

The Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) denied federal reimbursement to the State of New York and two of its agencies for interest costs associated with the State’s acquisition of computer equipment and publicly owned building space used by the State to administer several social service programs that are partly funded by the federal government. These disallowances were affirmed by HHS’s Departmental Appeals Board, whose decisions were upheld by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (Shira A. Scheindlin, District Judge). See New York v. Shalala, 979 F.Supp. 177 (S.D.N.Y.1997); New York v. Shalala, 959 F.Supp. 614 (S.D.N.Y.1997).

The State of New York, the New York State Department of Social Services, and the New York State Department of Health appeal from Judge Scheindlin’s grant of summary judgment in favor of HHS and against the State of New York and its two agencies. Appellants argue, inter alia, that the disal-lowances made by HHS were arbitrary and capricious notwithstanding the fact that they were in compliance with Office of Management and Budget Circular A-87, a directive first issued by the Bureau of the Budget in May 1968 and made applicable to HHS programs in 1973. See 45 C.F.R. § 74.27(a). We affirm the grant of summary judgment in favor of appellees for substantially the reasons set forth in the thorough and thoughtful district court opinions.