Advocate Christ Medical Center v. Kennedy

Advocate Christ Medical Center, a large hospital in Illinois, filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, identified as Kennedy, challenging a rule or guidance issued by the Department of Health and Human Services. The hospital alleged that the federal policy exceeded statutory authority under the Administrative Procedure Act and imposed unlawful conditions on participation in Medicare or Medicaid programs. The case was heard or decided on April 29, 2025, in a United States federal court. The hospital sought declaratory and injunctive relief to prevent enforcement of the policy, arguing that it would cause irreparable harm to hospital operations and patient care. The litigation centered on the scope of federal regulatory power over health care institutions and the balance between federal oversight and hospital autonomy.

The court granted a preliminary injunction in favor of Advocate Christ Medical Center on April 29, 2025, temporarily blocking enforcement of the challenged federal policy pending further judicial review.

Whether the federal health policy promulgated by the Department of Health and Human Services exceeded its statutory authority and violated the Administrative Procedure Act, and whether the hospital was entitled to injunctive relief from the challenged regulatory requirements.

The ruling may affect how hospitals nationwide comply with federal health care regulations and could set a precedent for similar litigation challenging the authority of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under Secretary Kennedy.