PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - A state official says Gov. Dennis Daugaard is setting up a group to study whether South Dakota should expand the Medicaid program to cover thousands of additional low-income people.
The Joint Appropriations Committee refused Friday to add money to the state budget to cover an expansion of Medicaid beginning next January. Deb Bowman, a senior adviser to the governor, says if the study recommends that Medicaid be expanded, the change could take effect next July.
Sen. Stan Adelstein of Rapid City asked the Appropriations Committee to add $1.5 million in state spending so South Dakota could get $59.8 million in federal funds to cover an additional 48,000 low-income people.
But Rep. Mark Mickelson of Sioux Falls says the federal government may not be able to afford the Medicaid expansion.
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