Cite as: 508 U. S. 402 (1993)
Opinion of the Court
the amount determined to be "reasonable" under the applicable regulations. Ibid. Under this approach, clause (ii) establishes the mechanism through which the total of the interim payments extended pursuant to § 1395g (which merely purport to be estimates of actual costs) are reconciled with the postaudit amounts determined at year's end to be owed under the methods determining allowable costs.6 We
granted certiorari to resolve a conflict among the Courts of Appeals.7 506 U. S. 914 (1992).
II
A
The starting point in interpreting a statute is its language, for "[i]f the intent of Congress is clear, that is the end of the matter." Chevron U. S. A. Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., 467 U. S. 837, 842 (1984). See also NLRB v. Food & Commercial Workers, 484 U. S. 112, 123 (1987). Clause (ii) instructs the Secretary to "provide for
6 In addition, the Court of Appeals held that failure to account for part-time employment and for proximity to urban hospitals in the cost limits was not arbitrary and capricious, since "[b]oth the wage index and the rural/urban distinction were based on objective data and regulations." 952 F. 2d, at 1025.
7 Compare Good Samaritan Hospital v. Sullivan, 952 F. 2d 1017 (CA8 1991) (case below) (construing clause (ii) to provide merely for year-end book balancing); Sierra Medical Center v. Sullivan, 902 F. 2d 388 (CA5 1990) (same); Hennepin County v. Sullivan, 280 U. S. App. D. C. 13, 883 F. 2d 85 (1989) (same), cert. denied, 493 U. S. 1043 (1990); Daughters of Miriam Center for the Aged v. Mathews, 590 F. 2d 1250 (CA3 1978) (same), with Mt. Diablo Hospital v. Sullivan, 963 F. 2d 1175 (CA9 1992) (construing clause (ii) to require Secretary to reimburse all "reasonable costs," including those in excess of the cost limits), cert. pending, No. 92-720; Medical Center Hospital v. Bowen, 839 F. 2d 1504 (CA11 1988) (same); Fairfax Nursing Center, Inc. v. Califano, 590 F. 2d 1297 (CA4 1979) (same); Springdale Convalescent Center v. Mathews, 545 F. 2d 943 (CA5 1977) (same); Whitecliff, Inc. v. United States, 210 Ct. Cl. 53, 536 F. 2d 347 (1976) (same); Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center v. Richardson, 486 F. 2d 663 (CA2 1973) (same).
409
Page: Index Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 NextLast modified: October 4, 2007