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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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SD Healthcare Groups Backing Medicaid Expansion

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Thursday, February 11, 2016   

PIERRE, S.D. - At least 60 businesses, nonprofits and healthcare organizations are now backing Gov. Dennis Daugaard's ideas to expand Medicaid in South Dakota. The group is calling itself "It Makes Sense for South Dakota."

Supporters say the expansion plans will not increase the state's general budget, because it will rely on federal dollars. Some critics of the expansion, however, are concerned it could increase the federal deficit.

Erik Nelson, associate director for advocacy with AARP South Dakota, argues the governor's plan relies on shifting previously-earmarked federal money into the state expansion.

"Expansion will save local governments millions of dollars in indigent care," says Nelson. "This proposal is a unique opportunity to solve a long-standing reimbursement issue with Indian Health Services and to help 50,000 South Dakotans with their own healthcare coverage."

If South Dakota lawmakers do approve the governor's plan, it would be the first to extend Medicaid coverage for Indian Health Services both on and off the reservations.

Some of the newly-listed supporters include business groups, such as the Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce, and about two-dozen health organizations, such as the American Heart Association.

Nelson says the state's AARP chapter is backing Gov. Daugaard's proposal because the Medicaid expansion could help some of the state's older workers.

"Twelve thousand of the 50,000 that are eligible are ages 45 to 64," says Nelson. "They are at a place where they're in need of coverage as they enter the second half of the their lives, when they will be needing healthcare treatment more and more."

This comes just days after President Obama unveiled his budget proposal, which includes a plan to provide three years of full federal funding for states that decide to expand Medicaid within the next two years.


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