Medicaid Expansion Group Shifting Lobbying Efforts to Pierre

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A coalition established by Governor Dennis Daugaard to wade into the web of federal policy revisions necessary to satisfy his conditions for expanding Medicaid in South Dakota is turning its focus back on Pierre.

The group of health representatives and state and tribal officials met Wednesday for the final time before the 2016 legislative session.

Daugaard proposed expanding eligibility for the program for about 50,000 South Dakota residents as long as the state's share of the cost is covered by savings.

Kim Malsam-Rysdon is a senior adviser to Daugaard. She says an answer from the federal government could come in February.

Malsam-Rysdon says members of the group are now shifting their lobbying efforts to state lawmakers since expansion of the program for disabled and low-income people is a complicated topic.

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