Wilder v. Virginia Hosp. Assn

In Wilder v. Virginia Hosp. Assn. (496 U.S. 498 [1990]), the Supreme Court held that violations of certain provisions of the Medicaid Act may be redressed under 42 USC 1983. The Wilder Court formulated a three-part test to help courts determine when a Federal statute creates a right enforceable by an individual against the State: (1) the statute must be intended to benefit the plaintiff; (2) the provision must impose a binding obligation on the State, rather than signal a mere Congressional preference; and (3) the right protected by the statute must not be so " ' "vague and amorphous" ' " that its enforcement would strain judicial competence. ( Wilder, 486 US, at 509.)