Gov. Dennis Daugaard to Discuss South Dakota Medicaid Expansion with Head of HHS

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota may join about 30 states in expanding its Medicaid program if federal officials approve a plan Gov. Dennis Daugaard is discussing with the nation's top health and human services administrator.

Daugaard is scheduled to meet Tuesday in Washington with Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell to detail the proposal.

Daugaard's senior adviser Kim Malsam-Rysdon says the plan would add about 48,500 newly eligible South Dakota residents to the program. She says it's expected to cost the state between $30 and $33 million starting in 2020.

Daugaard chief of staff Tony Venhuizen says the meeting will help signal whether the federal government is open to the proposal.

Federal officials rejected a plan from the state in 2014 to partially expand Medicaid, which provides health coverage to low-income and disabled people.

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