new york state blue cross plans travelers argued january decided april page together pataki governor new york et al travelers insurance et hospital association new york state travelers insurance et also certiorari new york statute requires hospitals collect surcharges patients covered commercial insurer patients insured blue shield plan also subjects certain health maintenance organizations hmos surcharges several commercial insurers trade associations filed actions state officials claiming employee retirement income security act erisa state laws relate covered employee benefit plan superseded imposition surcharges bills patients whose commercial insurance coverage purchased erisa plan hmos insofar membership fees paid erisa plan blue shield plans collectively blues hospital association intervened defendants several hmos hmo conference intervened plaintiffs district consolidated actions granted plaintiffs summary judgment appeals affirmed relying decisions shaw delta air lines district columbia greater washington board trade holding erisa clause must read broadly reach state law connection reference covered benefit plans decided surcharges meant increase costs certain insurance hmo health care held purposeful interference choices erisa plans make health care coverage constitutes connection erisa plans triggering page ii held new york surcharge provisions relate employee benefit plans within meaning thus pp shaw supra provisions relate erisa plans connection make reference plans clearly make reference erisa plans erisa text unhelpful determining whether connection thus must look erisa objectives guide scope state law congress understood survive pp basic thrust clause avoid multiplicity regulation order permit nationally uniform administration employee benefit plans thus erisa state laws mandate employee benefit structures administration well provide alternate enforcement mechanisms purpose effects new york statute quite different however principal reason charge differentials blues provide coverage many subscribers commercial insurers reject since differentials make blues attractive indirect economic effect choices made insurance buyers including erisa plans however indirect economic influence bind plan administrators particular choice preclude uniform administrative practice provision uniform interstate benefit package simply bears costs benefits relative costs competing insurance provide cost uniformity almost certainly object rate differentials common even absence state action therefore unlikely erisa meant bar indirect influences state law existence common state actions indirect economic effects plan cost quality control standards workplace regulation leaves intent even less likely since laws superseded well new york surcharges leave plan administrators case responsibility choose best overall coverage money thus bear requisite connection erisa plans trigger pp conclusion confirmed decision mackey lanier collection agency service erisa falls short barring application general state garnishment statutes participants benefits hands erisa plan new york surcharges impose kind substantive coverage requirement binding plan administrators issue metropolitan life insurance massachusetts since require plans deal one insurer insure entire category illnesses plans might otherwise choose cover pp conclusion one drawn unsettling result barring state regulation hospital costs theory laws indirect economic effects erisa plans however hint erisa legislative history page iii elsewhere congress intended squelch efforts several regulating hospital charges degree time erisa passed moreover broad interpretation rendered nugatory entire federal statute enacted erisa congress gave comprehensive aid state health care rate regulation pp reaching decision hold erisa direct regulation erisa plans possible state law might produce acute albeit indirect economic effects force erisa plan adopt certain scheme coverage effectively restrict choice insurers case souter delivered opinion unanimous new york state blue cross plans travelers justice souter delivered opinion new york statute requires hospitals collect surcharges patients covered commercial insurer patients insured blue shield plan subjects certain health maintenance organizations hmos surcharges vary number medicaid recipients enrolls pub health law mckinney case calls us decide whether employee retirement income security act erisa stat amended new york state blue cross plans travelers et seq ed supp state provisions surcharges bills patients whose commercial insurance coverage purchased employee plans governed erisa surcharges hmos insofar membership fees paid erisa plan hold provisions surcharges relate employee benefit plans within meaning erisa provision accordingly suffer new york prospective hospital reimbursement methodology nyphrm regulates hospital rates care except services provided medicare beneficiaries pub health law mckinney scheme calls patients charged cost individual treatment average cost treating patient medical problem classified one another diagnostic related groups drgs charges allowable accordance drg classifications adjusted specific hospital reflect particular operating costs capital investments bad debts costs charity care like patients blue shield coverage medicaid patients hmo participants billed hospital drg rate pub health law see also brief petitioners pataki et others however patients served commercial insurers providing hospital coverage basis funds directly reimbursing hospitals certain workers compensation new york state blue cross plans travelers volunteer firefighters benefit ambulance workers benefit motor vehicle insurance funds must billed drg rate plus surcharge retained hospital pub health law year ending march moreover hospitals required bill commercially insured patients surcharge turned state result patients charged drg rate new york law also imposes surcharge hmos varies depending number eligible medicaid recipients hmo enrolled may run high aggregate monthly charges paid hmo members hospital care assessment increase rates paid hmo hospitals direct payment hmo state general fund erisa comprehensive regulation employee welfare pension benefit plans extends provide medical surgical hospital care benefits plan participants beneficiaries purchase insurance otherwise federal statute go protecting plan participants beneficiaries requiring employers provide given set minimum benefits instead controls administration benefit plans see imposing reporting disclosure mandates participation vesting requirements funding standards fiduciary responsibilities plan administrators envisions administrative oversight imposes criminal sanctions establishes comprehensive civil enforcement scheme also state law section provides erisa shall supersede state laws insofar relate employee benefit plan covered new york state blue cross plans travelers statute although stops short law state regulates insurance exception insurance regulation limited however provision employee welfare benefit plan may deemed insurance company insurer engaged business insurance finally erisa saves generally applicable criminal law state new york state blue cross plans travelers claimed authority erisa general provision several commercial insurers acting fiduciaries erisa plans administer joined trade associations bring actions state officials district seeking invalidate surcharge statutes new york state conference blue cross blue shield plans empire blue cross blue shield collectively blues hospital association new york state intervened defendants new york state health maintenance organization conference several hmos intervened plaintiffs district consolidated actions granted summary judgment plaintiffs supp sdny found although surcharges directly increase plan costs ffect level benefits offered little doubt urcharges issue significant effect commercial insurers hmos provide coverage erisa plans thus lead least indirectly increase plan costs omitted found entire justification urcharges premised exact result urcharges increase cost obtaining medical insurance source blues sufficient extent customers switch coverage ensure economic viability blues ibid omitted district concluded effect choices erisa plans enough trigger surcharges saved regulating insurance district accordingly enjoined enforcement surcharges commercial insurers hmos connection coverage erisa plans new york state blue cross plans travelers appeals second circuit affirmed relying decisions shaw delta air lines district columbia greater washington board trade holding erisa clause must read broadly reach state law connection reference covered employee benefit plans light decision mcclendon appeals abandoned prior decision rebaldo cuomo cert denied drawn upon definition term state erisa conclude state law must purport regulate terms conditions employee benefit plans fall within preemption provision erisa internal quotation marks omitted rejecting narrower approach erisa relied statement applicable broad meaning state law may relate benefit plan thereby even law specifically designed affect plans effect indirect see new york state blue cross plans travelers appeals agreed trial surcharges meant increase costs certain insurance health care hmos held purpose ful interfer ence choices erisa plans make health care coverage sufficient constitute connection erisa plans triggering conclusion sum three surcharges relate erisa impose significant economic burden commercial insurers hmos therefore impermissible impact erisa plan structure administration light conclusion surcharge statutes otherwise saved applicable exception held recognized apparent conflict conclusion decision third circuit wire metal machine health welfare fund morristown memorial cert denied held new jersey similar rate setting statute relate plans way triggers erisa preemption clause see granted certiorari resolve conflict reverse remand new york state blue cross plans travelers ii since claims turn congress intent cipollone supra slip shaw supra begin exercise statutory construction text provision question move need structure purpose act occurs see governing text erisa clearly expansive section marks state laws insofar relate employee benefit plan covered erisa one might excused wondering first blush whether words limitation insofar new york state blue cross plans travelers relate much limiting relate taken extend furthest stretch indeterminacy practical purposes never run course eally universally relations stop nowhere james roderick hudson xli new york world classics course read congress words limitation mere sham read presumption law whenever congress speaks matter generality said recognize prior attempt construe phrase relate give us much help drawing line shaw explained law relates employee benefit plan normal sense phrase connection reference plan latter alternative least ruled surcharges imposed upon patients hmos regardless whether commercial coverage membership respectively ultimately secured erisa plan private purchase otherwise consequence surcharge statutes said make reference erisa plans manner cf greater bd trade slip striking district columbia law specifically refers welfare benefit plans regulated erisa basis alone still leaves us question whether surcharge laws connection erisa plans uncritical literalism help trying construe relate reasons infinite relations measure neither infinite connections simply must go beyond unhelpful text frustrating difficulty defining key term look instead objectives erisa statute guide scope state law congress understood survive new york state blue cross plans travelers said indicates congress intent establish regulation employee welfare benefit plans exclusively federal concern alessi found passing congress intended ensure plans plan sponsors subject uniform body benefits law goal minimize administrative financial burden complying conflicting directives among federal government prevent potential conflict substantive law requiring tailoring plans employer conduct peculiarities law jurisdiction accordingly shaw example trouble finding new york human rights law prohibit ed employers structuring employee benefit plans manner discriminate basis pregnancy new york disability benefits law require employers pay employees specific benefits clearly relate benefit plans mandates affecting coverage honored varying subjects plan benefits whenever new york law might applied requiring every plan new york state blue cross plans travelers provide beneficiaries benefit demanded new york law new york law said require one beneficiary similarly pennsylvania law prohibited plans requiring reimbursement beneficiary event recovery third party related employee benefit plans within meaning fmc holliday law prohibit ed plans structured manner requiring reimbursement event recovery third party require plan providers calculate benefit levels pennsylvania based expected liability conditions differ enacted similar antisubrogation legislation thereby frustrat ing plan administrators continuing obligation calculate uniform benefit levels nationwide ibid pennsylvania employees recovered negligence actions tortfeasors virtue state law effect entitled benefits excess plan administrators intended provide excess plan provided employees along lines new jersey prohibit plans setting workers compensation payments employees retirement benefits pensions prevent plans using method calculating benefits permitted federal law alessi supra cases erisa state laws mandated employee benefit structures administration elsewhere held state laws providing alternate enforcement mechanisms also relate erisa plans triggering see supra new york state blue cross plans travelers purpose effects new york surcharge statutes distinguish examples given charge differentials justified ground blues pay hospitals promptly efficiently importantly provide coverage many subscribers commercial insurers reject unacceptable risks blues practice called open enrollment consistently cited principal reason charge differentials whether differentials resulted voluntary negotiation hospitals payers case prior nyphrm system created surcharges case see charge differential analysis committee new york state hospital review planning council report reprinted joint appendix pp corcoran superintendent insurance update position paper new york state insurance department inpatient reimbursement rate differential provided insurers trussell prepayment hospital care new york state trussell thorpe rate setting work case new york prospective hospital reimbursement methodology health politics policy law since surcharges presumably passed least part purchase commercial insurance hmo membership effects follow purpose although evidence surcharges drive every health insurance consumer blues make blues attractive less unattractive insurance alternatives thus indirect economic effect choices made insurance buyers including erisa plans new york state blue cross plans travelers indirect economic influence however bind plan administrators particular choice thus function regulation erisa plan commercial insurers hmos may still offer attractive packages blues indirect influence surcharges preclude uniform administrative practice provision uniform interstate benefit package plan wishes provide one simply bears costs benefits relative costs competing insurance provide influence affect plan shopping decisions affect fact plan shop best deal get surcharges surcharges indeed nothing remarkable surcharges hospital bills effects overall cost plans relative attractiveness certain insurers rate variations among hospital providers accepted examples cost variation since hospitals traditionally attempted compensate financial shortfalls adjusting price schedules patients commercial health insurance thorpe supra charge differentials commercial insurers even prior state regulation varied dramatically across regions ranging percent presumably reflecting geographically disparate burdens providing uninsured see see also trussell bobinski unhealthy federalism barriers increasing health care access uninsured davis rev common character rate differentials even absence state action renders unlikely erisa meant bar new york state blue cross plans travelers indirect economic influences state law existence common state action indirect economic effects plan costs leaves intent even less likely quality standards example set state one subject area hospital services another affect relative cost providing services others providing different packages health insurance benefits even basic regulation employment conditions invariably affect cost price services quality control workplace regulation sure presumably less likely affect premium differentials among competing insurers change fact state regulation indirectly affect erisa plan afford get money thus absence exact guide intended fair conclude mandates rate differentials unless regulation indirect effects plan costs superseded well bigger package regulation indirect effects fall respondent reading less likely federal regulation benefit plans intended eliminate state regulation health care costs indeed read provision displacing state laws affecting costs charges theory indirectly relate erisa plans purchase insurance policies hmo memberships cover services effectively read limiting language statute conclusion violate basic principles statutory interpretation squared prior pronouncement reemption occur state law tenuous remote peripheral connection covered plans case many laws general applicability district columbia greater washington board trade slip internal quotation marks citations omitted congress extension state laws relating benefit plans meant sweep broadly state laws new york state blue cross plans travelers dealing subject matters covered erisa reporting disclosure fiduciary responsibility like shaw nothing language act context passage indicates congress chose displace general health care regulation historically matter local concern see hillsborough county automated medical laboratories furrow greaney johnson jost schwartz health law sum almost certainly object laws indirect economic effect relative costs various health insurance packages given state far cry conflicting directives congress meant insulate erisa plans see state laws leave plan administrators right case responsibility choose best overall coverage money therefore conclude state laws bear requisite connection erisa plans trigger new york state blue cross plans travelers conclusion confirmed decision mackey lanier collection agency service held erisa falls short barring application general state garnishment statute participants benefits hands erisa welfare benefit plan took issue argument mackey plan trustees garnishment impose administrative costs burdens upon benefit plans concluded text structure erisa enforcement provisions congress intend forbid use mechanisms executing judgments erisa welfare benefit plans even mechanisms prevent plan participants receiving benefits law authorizing indirect source administrative cost follow law operating indirect source merely economic influence administrative decisions suffice trigger either commercial challengers counter invoking earlier case metropolitan life insurance massachusetts considered whether state mandate coverage specified minimum benefits policies insuring hospital surgical expenses regulated policies included bought employee welfare benefit plans recognized law directly affected plans although went hold law ultimately saved insurance savings clause respondents proffer first steps decision support argument laws affecting erisa plans impact insurance policies relate plans unless expressly saved statute challengers take metropolitan life far however massachusetts statute applied ny blanket general policy insurance policy accident sickness insurance new york state blue cross plans travelers also employees health welfare fund provide hospital expense surgical expense benefits fact state even try defend law unrelated employee benefit plans purpose result reason distinguish precision effects insurers sufficiently connected employee benefit plans relate plans effects enough address distinction bluntly saying one hand laws like one metropolitan life relate plans since bea indirectly substantially insured benefit plans requir ing purchase benefits specified statute purchase certain kind common insurance policy saying laws regulate insurer way may sell insurance relate benefit plans even basic distinction recognizes regulations influence cost insurance relate employee benefit plans within meaning example state regulate sales insurance commercial insurers stringently sales insurers relative cost commercial insurance rise nonetheless say following metropolitan life laws relate benefit plans first instance ibid authority say basic tax exemption enjoyed insurers like blues since days long erisa see marmor new york blue cross blue shield complicated politics nonprofit regulation health politics policy law tracing new york blue cross special tax treatment prepayment organization back laws ch yet respondent theory exemption necessarily affecting insurance prices plan costs event metropolitan life carry weight commercial insurers place new york surcharges impose kind substantive coverage requirement binding plan administrators issue metropolitan life although new york state blue cross plans travelers even absence mandated coverage might point exorbitant tax leaving consumers hobson choice treated imposing substantive mandate showing made surcharges prohibitive force health insurance consumers contract blues currently stand surcharges require plans deal one insurer insure entire category illnesses might otherwise choose leave without coverage remains speak point already raised conclusion one draw bar state regulation hospital costs basic drg system even without surcharge like interference hospital services market fall theory laws indirect economic effects erisa plans unsettling result startling several including new york regulated hospital charges one degree another time erisa passed see cal ins code ann west nonprofit hospitals rev stat stat medical service corporations health care centers md ann code art michie supp mass laws ann ch west amended mass acts ch mass acts ch hospital service corporations mass laws ch west supp medical service corporations health maintenance organization act laws ch stat ann west supp pub health law mckinney laws ch rev code ann west yet much hint erisa legislative history anywhere else congress intended squelch state efforts even revealing national health planning resources development act nhprda pub stat repealed pub title vii stat new york state blue cross plans travelers adopted congress passed erisa months later nhprda sought encourage help fund state responses growing health care costs widely diverging availability health services stat see generally national gerimedical hospital gerontology center blue cross kansas city provided organization partial funding regional health systems agencies responsible gathering data well planning developing health resources designated health service areas stat scheme called designating state health planning development agencies qualifying coordinate development health services policy state agencies eligible federal funding including grants purpose demonstrating effectiveness state agencies regulating rates provision health care within state ibid exemption erisa nowhere mentioned prerequisite receipt funding indeed legal prerequisite eligible rate regulation grants satisfactory evidence state agency state law authority carry rate regulation functions accordance section ibid secretary required provide technical assistance designated agencies promulgating uniform system calculating rates charged health insurers health institutions payors health service institutions although nhprda placed substantive restrictions system secretary establish subject matter therefore scope envisioned state regulation covers ground new york surcharges tread secretary system supposed based rate various categories patients rovide rates reflect true cost providing services category patients new york state blue cross plans travelers rovide appropriate application system different types institutions rovide differences rates various classes purchasers including health insurers direct service payors health institution payors based justified documented differences costs operation health service institutions made possible actions purchasers new york state blue cross plans travelers iii judgment appeals therefore reversed case remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered footnotes references made laws new york stood times relevant litigation certain circumstances new york law permits hmos negotiate hospital payment schedules subject state approval district appeals held injunctive remedy prohibited tax injunction act provides federal district courts shall enjoin suspend restrain assessment tax state law plain speedy efficient remedy may courts state although courts considered surcharges new york state blue cross plans travelers taxes found plain speedy efficient remedy exist state since erisa supp divests state courts jurisdiction claims see neither party challenges conclusion occasion examine address surcharge statute insofar applies funds trial erisa analysis originally led enjoin defendants enforcing surcharges commercial insurers hmos connection coverage erisa plans without mention funds staying decision surcharge pending appeal see ordered named parties including travelers insurance company served fiduciary plan pay surcharge whenever required state law see travelers ins new york state health maintenance conference civ sdny apr reprinted brief national carriers conference committee amicus curiae appeals turn expressly address application surcharge accordingly leave consideration remand although respondents argue surcharges become superfluous insurers become subject certain open enrollment requirements see brief respondents travelers insurance et al laws ch effective april ins law supp responsibility review continuing substantive rationale surcharges even surcharges may well find support effort compensate blues new york state blue cross plans travelers current makeup insurance pool presumably continues reflect longer history open enrollment policies see corcoran superintendent insurance position paper new york state insurance department inpatient reimbursement rate differential provided insurers possibility abrupt abandonment current hospital discount consideration given past history health insurance enrollment new york left blue shield plans core uninsurables obtained years ongoing liability resulting enrollment history medicare regulation makes point confirming congress never envisioned erisa blocking state health care cost control rather meant encourage rely state experimentation like new york see generally davis anderson rowland steinberg health care cost containment since time drg systems tried congress consistently shown awareness encouragement controlled payment alternatives federal regulatory scheme social security amendments pub stat amended example granted secretary health education welfare health human services authority waive medicare rules allow physician hospital reimbursement according approved state payment schedules social security amendments pub stat congress specifically called upon secretary report prospective reimbursement schemes thus favored already future later development schemes like nyphrm new jersey health care cost reduction act laws ch congress medicare waiver provisions evolved point explicit reference state commitment apply hospital reimbursement control system substantial portion hospitals inpatient services statewide see new york state blue cross plans travelers indeed report social security amendments house committee ways means recommended held traditional reimbursement systems state systems provide laboratory innovative methods controlling health care costs therefore limited one methodology pt pp committee concluded state systems covering payors proven effective reducing health costs encouraged state programs may useful models national system history medicare waivers implementing legislation enacted erisa course conclusive proof congressional intent behind erisa fact congress envisioned state experiments comprehensive hospital reimbursement regulation supports conclusion erisa meant basic rate regulation page