Study: SD Leaves Money Behind Without Medicaid Expansion

Public News Service

By: Brandon Campbell

According to a new report from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families, states that have expanded Medicaid have been seeing the healthcare coverage benefits and are saving money. South Dakota, however, is still 1/19 states that has not expanded Medicaid yet, but is looking forward to expanding – in order to increase better health care access.

Unlike South Dakota, states that have expanded Medicaid coverage are seeing benefits across their health care systems, according to a new report. After looking at safety net hospitals and clinics in seven states, researchers at the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families found that the Medicaid expansion states saved money. Carrie Clausen-Hansen, government relations chair with the South Dakota Nurses Association, said if the Rushmore State increased Medicaid coverage about 50,000 people would have better health care access.

Study co-author Jack Hoadley, research professor at Georgetown University, said health care institutions in expansion states are also saving money. He said this frees them up to provide more services, including dental and behavioral health check ups.

“Because they have more resources and they’re not just stretched to just meet the day-to-day needs of their patients they have a little more flexibility to try to create relationships around the community with other providers,” he said.

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