SDML Urges Yes Vote on Amendment D

South dakota Municipal League Urges Yes Vote on Amendment D

Municipalities throughout South Dakota are encouraging their citizens to vote yes on Constitutional Amendment D, the Medicaid expansion initiative, on Nov. 8.

“[Medicaid expansion] would return hundreds of millions of our tax dollars to our state, keep rural hospitals open, and provide affordable care to hard-working South Dakotans all over the state,” said Steve Allender, President of the SD Municipal League and Mayor of Rapid City. “This will help our local communities thrive and contribute to an improved quality of life for all of us.”

The Municipal League announced earlier this year that the organization was endorsing South Dakotans Decide Healthcare, a broad coalition of patient advocates, nurses, healthcare providers, farmers, faith leaders, educators, and more who support Medicaid expansion in the state.

South Dakotans Decide Healthcare indicates that Medicaid expansion will help 40,000 individuals – including parents, farmers, and

[Amendment D] will help our local communities thrive and contribute to an improved quality of life for all of us.

- Steve Allender, SDML President

small business employees – get he healthcare they need. A family of four earning less than $37,000 a year would qualify.

OVERVIEW CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT D

• A "yes" vote supports amending the state constitution to expand Medicaid. • A "no" vote opposes expanding Medicaid.

Constitutional Amendment D would amend the constitution to require the state to provide Medicaid benefits to adults between 18 and 65 with incomes below 133% of the federal poverty level beginning July 1, 2023. Because the Affordable Care Act includes a 5% income disregard, this measure would effectively expand Medicaid to those with incomes at or below 138% of the federal poverty level.

Sponsors: The measure was sponsored by South Dakotans Decide Healthcare and is supported by the South Dakota State Medical Association, South Dakota Nurses Association, South Dakota Education Association, American Lung Association, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, South Dakota AARP, and more.

Attorney General's Explanation

Medicaid is a program, funded by the State and the federal government, to provide medical coverage for low-income people who are in certain designated categories. This constitutional amendment expands Medicaid eligibility in South Dakota. It requires the State to provide Medicaid benefits to any person over age 18 and under 65 whose income is at or below 133% of the federal poverty level, plus 5% of the federal poverty level for the applicable family size, as provided in federal law. For people who qualify under this amendment, the State may not impose burdens or restrictions that are greater than those imposed on any other person eligible for Medicaid benefits under South Dakota law.

The South Dakota Department of Social Services must submit to the federal government all documentation required to implement this amendment, and must take all actions necessary to maximize federal funding for this expansion. ■

The South Dakota Municipal League supports South Dakotans Decide Healthcare, a broad coalition of individuals and organizations for the expansion of Medicaid in South Dakota.

The reach goes beyond individuals, however. Currently, South Dakota’s Medicaid dollars are sent to other states such as California, New York, and 36 other states to pay for their healthcare. The amendment would bring those tax dollars back home for healthcare and jobs, helping keep rural hospitals and clinics open.

Cities and towns will also see a benefi t. Since most small local business owners unfortunately can’t afford to provide healthcare to their employees, expanding Medicaid would enable thousands of small business workers to get healthcare for the fi rst time. If South Dakotans didn’t have to pay thousands of dollars for healthcare and medical debt, they’d have more to spend in local businesses, which benefi ts entire communities.

Supporters of Amendment D make up one of the broadest coalitions to ever launch a ballot measure, and includes doctors, farmers, educators, hospitals, small businesses, and organizations like the American Cancer Society and the AARP.

Join the Municipal League and many others in voting “yes” on Constitutional Amendment D, the Medicaid Expansion initiative, on Nov. 8. ■

VOTE 

Who will Medicaid expansion help?

Medicaid expansion helps parents, farmers, near retirees, small business employees, and South Dakotans who work at jobs that don’t off er healthcare or who simply can’t aff ord it. They earn too much currently to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to aff ord care on their own.

Medicaid expansion will help hardworking South Dakota families who are slipping through the cracks in our healthcare system and rural residents who already have to drive long distances for emergency care. Medicaid expansion will help keep rural hospitals open for when an emergency strikes and ensure that all South Dakota families have access to emergency care — regardless of where they live.

How will it help our economy?

Expanding Medicaid will bring hundreds of millions of our tax dollars back home to South Dakota every year. That money will go back into our local economy, keep families out of medical bankruptcy, help keep rural hospitals and clinics open, and benefi t our small businesses. The less money families have to spend on medical debt, the more they can spend supporting our small businesses, and that benefi ts all of us.

What's at stake?

Right now, Washington politicians send South Dakota’s Medicaid dollars to California, New York, and 36 other states to pay for their healthcare instead. That needs to change. It’s time to bring our tax dollars home for healthcare and jobs here — just like North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Idaho have all done recently.

Medicaid expansion would put hundreds of millions of dollars back into our local economy. For hardworking families, it means access to healthcare, less money spent paying off medical bills, and more money available to spend in our local small businesses.

In rural communities, it also means more healthcare jobs and the chance to protect emergency care for our families. Eleven rural hospitals in our state are now at risk of closure. Medicaid expansion will help keep these facilities open for when our families need them most — whether that’s a loved one having a heart attack or suff ering a serious injury on the farm.

That’s why doctors, nurses, farmers, small businesses and so many South Dakota organizations are endorsing this campaign. We have the support of one of the broadest coalitions to ever launch a ballot initiative in this state, and the number of our supporters continues to grow.

- South Dakotans Decide Healthcare southdakotansdecide.org