03/03/2025
Immediate Action Needed
March 2, 2025
SDCA Members:
Please forward this information to all the mental health providers you know!
These South Dakota bills will be up for vote in our Senate on Monday, March 3:
1) Support Medicaid – there is a “trigger” bill coming up – House Joint Resolution 5001
If Congress cuts Medicaid, this bill would end “Medicaid Expansion” in South Dakota.
The Medicaid Expansion covers those ages 18-65 who earn less than 135% of the federal poverty level (135% = $1760/month, or $419/week).
Healthcare.gov (Affordable Care Act) plans do not cover those persons who are covered under Medicaid Expansion.
This bill would cut off healthcare for the ~32,000 South Dakotans whose healthcare is covered through “Medicaid Expansion.”
These are our clients, so not only does this “trigger law” affect them, it also affects our payments for serving them.
And, remember, we cannot “abandon” clients, so this means we will be required to continue working with these clients, unpaid, or find others who will work with them, unpaid.
2) Once again, another “bathroom bill” – HB 1259 – is being considered on Monday
This bill will be in the Senate on Monday.
This discriminatory bill will have unintended financial impact:
If passed, this bill will go to court, so South Dakota will have to cover the expenses related to lengthy litigation.
If passed, and children/youth are attacked, the expense of lawsuits from parents will have to be covered. Will those be covered by the State or by school districts?
PLEASE contact your State Senators TODAY about these bills.
And, remember . . .
Federal healthcare insurance programs (Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, Medicaid Expansion,
and Avera & Sanford’s Affordable Care Act plans) are facing imminent, drastic cuts under the current administration. And, as you know, commercial insurers usually follow federal decisions re: health insurance coverage. So, even if you don’t see clients with Medicare or Medicaid or Avera & Sanford’s ACA coverage, this matters to you and your clients.
Federal Senate and House votes are expected this month.
The cuts being considered right now include coverage for telehealth (which ends in March 2025).
Contact Senator Thune, Senator Johnson, and Representative now.
Also, Senator Thune, Senator Johnson, and Representative Johnson will be back in South Dakota on “recess” from March 13th to 25th. Do reach out to them while they are here.
Thanks for all you are doing, everyday, for the people of South Dakota!
Anne Dilenschneider, PhD, LPC-MH
SDCA Government Relations Committee Chair
