South Dakota Senate rejects Medicaid expansion, leaving it to election (Audio)

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A proposal to expand Medicaid health coverage eligibility was defeated in the South Dakota Senate.

That leaves the decision to voters in the November election.

Republican Sen. Wayne Steinhauer had brought a proposal to the Legislature to make Medicaid, a federal-state health insurance program for low-income people, available to people who live below 133% of the federal poverty level.

The Republican-controlled Senate rejected his bill. Senator John Wiik (pictured) of Big Stone City says the Senate has already worked on affordable healthcare….

A campaign backed by South Dakota’s major health care systems is trying to get voters to pass a constitutional amendment to expand Medicaid eligibility on the November ballot.