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Coalition Created By Daugaard Meets On Medicaid Expansion

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A coalition established by Gov. Dennis Daugaard to explore the possibility of expanding Medicaid in South Dakota has met for the first time.

The Health Care Solutions Coalition gathered Wednesday in Pierre.

Daugaard recently met with Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell to detail a proposal to expand Medicaid, which provides health coverage to low-income and disabled people.

Expansion would make about 48,500 South Dakota residents newly eligible for the program. Starting in 2020, it’s expected to cost the state between $30 million and $33 million, which the measure would offset through state savings.

Daugaard’s senior adviser Kim Malsam-Rysdon says the governor’s concern about the expansion is its long-term cost to the state.

Group leaders are Malsam-Rysdon and Jerilyn Church of the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board.