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South Dakota lawmakers advance Medicaid work requirement
https://www.yahoo.com/news/south-dakota-lawmakers-advance-medicaid-235025256.html SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Republican lawmakers on Monday advanced a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow the state to try and force people on Medicaid to work despite federal policy prohibiting such requirements.
The proposal would change the state constitution and would need voter approval in 2024. All 11 Republicans on the House State Affairs Committee voted Monday to advance the legislation to the full House. The panel's two Democrats voted against it.
South Dakota voters in November approved expanding Medicaid eligibility to people making 138% of the federal poverty level.
Republican Rep. Tony Venhuizen of Sioux Falls, who's sponsoring the legislation to allow the state to require people to work for Medicaid benefits, said it could push them to find jobs. Key proponents of providing Medicaid to more people argued it would undermine expansion before it has even been implemented.
The federal government bars states from requiring work for Medicaid eligibility, but Venhuizen said that could change. The proposed state constitutional amendment would allow voters to decide, he argued.
The proposal would change the state constitution and would need voter approval in 2024. All 11 Republicans on the House State Affairs Committee voted Monday to advance the legislation to the full House. The panel's two Democrats voted against it.
South Dakota voters in November approved expanding Medicaid eligibility to people making 138% of the federal poverty level.
Republican Rep. Tony Venhuizen of Sioux Falls, who's sponsoring the legislation to allow the state to require people to work for Medicaid benefits, said it could push them to find jobs. Key proponents of providing Medicaid to more people argued it would undermine expansion before it has even been implemented.
The federal government bars states from requiring work for Medicaid eligibility, but Venhuizen said that could change. The proposed state constitutional amendment would allow voters to decide, he argued.
