Medicaid Expansion in SD – Community HealthCare Association of the Dakotas

CHAD Supports Medicaid Expansion in South Dakota

CHAD encourages health care advocates to vote YES on Amendment D in November. Expanding Medicaid means over 42,000 working South Dakotans who earn less than $19,000 per year can access health care coverage. These folks are stuck in the middle – they can’t get insurance through their jobs, and they can’t afford insurance on their own because costs are too high. Amendment D will help our neighbors, farmers, ranchers, near-retirees, and small business owners and their employees.

What is Medicaid?

Medicaid is a federal and state-funded program providing health care coverage for people who meet certain eligibility standards.
Eligible groups include families with incomes below the poverty line, pregnant people, children (CHIP), and people who are elderly, blind, or have a disability.

What is Medicaid Expansion?

Medicaid expansion expands eligibility to adults up to age 64 with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level —$18k/ year for an individual or $37k for a family of four.
It will fill the coverage gap.
Expansion group will be paid with a 90/10 split:
- SD: 10% share
- Federal government: 90% share
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provides an additional 5% increase to states that newly expand Medicaid.

Medicaid Expansion Supports Health Centers and Their Patients

This ensures jobs and health care access remain available in rural South Dakota.
Uninsured South Dakotans are more likely to be rural.
In 2016, average revenues for health centers in Medicaid expansion states were over 60% higher than for non-expansion states ($20.1 million vs. $12.4 million).
Health centers in Medicaid expansion states were able to serve over a quarter more patients and provide nearly 50% more patient visits.
While health center patients receive primary, behavioral health, and oral health care regardless of their ability to pay, several important services are not covered, including:
- Medications;
- Specialty services, including preventive tests like colonoscopies, radiation, and chemotherapy; and,
- Surgical services, such as mastectomies and other procedures to remove cancer.

Important Election Dates

September 23 - Absentee/ Early Voting Begins

To find out how to vote absentee and where to vote early visit: https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/voting/absentee-voting.aspx

October 24 - Voter Registration Deadline

Click here to register to vote https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/voting/register-to-vote/default.aspx

November 8 - Election Day

Click here to find a sample ballot https://vip.sdsos.gov/VIPLogin.aspx

Click here to find where you vote https://vip.sdsos.gov/VIPLogin.aspx

Medicaid Expansion Events

Partner Resources

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) has several resources and toolkits to aid advocates in sharing Medicaid expansion information with friends, family, and community groups.