One of the major issues Gov. Dennis Daugaard didn’t mention in Tuesday’s State of the State Address was expanding Medicaid to 48,000 uncovered South Dakotans.

For Rep. Karen Soli, a Democrat from Sioux Falls, expanded Medicaid coverage is a top issue the legislature should consider in 2015. However, she says the issues should be not be viewed as simply expanding the program.

“We have to realize why we’re doing it, “ Soli said. “We’re expanding access to health care. And when surveys are taken as to whether people should do that, they all say yes. And if you ask them if we should expand Medicaid, they say no.”

However, for Rep. Mark Mickelson, a Republican from Sioux Falls, he says Medicaid is already covering the frail and the young in South Dakota, leaving only able-bodied adults who can be covered through the federal health care exchange or through the 30-hour employment mandate. He's skeptical.

Rep. Mark Mickelson (R-Sioux Falls). Photo by Todd Epp.
Rep. Mark Mickelson (R-Sioux Falls). Photo by Todd Epp.
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“I hear the proposal that it’s good economic development, and you know what, I can see that argument. I mean it is,” Mickelson said. “But is that really what we’re trying to achieve or to get at? Absent flexibility in program design that we could tailor to what meets our state’s mores and values, I’d say no.”

Mickelson and Soli made their comments Tuesday from Pierre on KSOO’s Viewpoint University.

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