UPDATE JANUARY 5, 2022:
South Dakotans Decide Healthcare, a broad coalition of patient advocates, nurses, healthcare providers, farmers, faith leaders, educators, and more, announced today (Jan. 5, 2022) that they have received the endorsement of the American Diabetes Association® (ADA). The ADA strives to prevent, cure, and improve the lives of all people living with diabetes. In South Dakota, more than 60,000 people have been diagnosed with diabetes.
“The American Diabetes Association is proud to join South Dakotans Decide Healthcare and add our voice in support of expanding Medicaid,” stated Carissa Kemp, ADA’s Director of State Government Affairs. “People with diabetes need access to medications, supplies, and health care services to manage their diabetes, stay healthy, and prevent disabling or deadly complications. Yet, the health care costs of people with diabetes are more than double those of others. Relief is overdue for those struggling to stay healthy.”
Zach Marcus, Campaign Manager for South Dakotans Decide Healthcare, said of the endorsement from the American Diabetes Association, “We are grateful for the support of the American Diabetes Association. We look forward to working with them, their grassroots supporters, and South Dakotans managing diabetes to show how individual South Dakotans and the state will benefit from Medicaid Expansion.”
South Dakotans Decide Healthcare has been endorsed by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, AARP South Dakota, South Dakota State Medical Association, South Dakota Nurses Association, South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations, South Dakota Education Association, South Dakota Farmers Union, Community Healthcare Association of the Dakotas, Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board, Avera Health, Monument Health, Sanford Health, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, South Dakota Faith in Public Life, and more. It is one of the broadest coalitions to ever launch a ballot measure campaign in the state’s history.
UPDATE JANUARY 4, 2022:
South Dakotans Decide Healthcare, a broad coalition of patient advocates, nurses, healthcare providers, farmers, faith leaders, educators, and more, announced today that the Secretary of State has officially validated the signatures and that their Medicaid expansion constitutional amendment will have a place on the ballot in November.
Zach Marcus, campaign manager for South Dakotans Decide Healthcare, said, “We are grateful for the support of the tens of thousands of South Dakotans who signed our petition to enable us to be on the ballot. Medicaid expansion will be an economic driver for South Dakota. It will boost our economy, save rural hospitals, create jobs, help ensure hard working South Dakotans don’t drown in medical debt, and bring our hard earned tax dollars home. This is a healthcare issue, but it’s also a commonsense dollars and cents issue.”
Medicaid Expansion will appear on the ballot as Amendment D.
South Dakotans Decide Healthcare has been endorsed by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, AARP South Dakota, South Dakota State Medical Association, South Dakota Nurses Association, South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations, South Dakota Education Association, South Dakota Farmers Union, Community HealthCare of the Dakotas, Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board, Avera Health, Monument Health, Sanford Health, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, South Dakota Faith in Public Life, and more.
JANUARY 4, 2022:
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A proposal to expand Medicaid eligibility in South Dakota will appear on the November ballot. The secretary of state’s office announced Monday (Jan. 3, 2022) that Constitutional Amendment D was validated after an estimated 38,244 people signed petitions to put in on the ballot. That was well above the level needed. Medicaid is a federal-state health insurance program for low-income people. South Dakota is one of 12 states that has not accepted federal incentives to expand Medicaid eligibility, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. If voters approve, the program would be made available to 42,500 additional South Dakotans in its first year, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Research Council.
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