To: Governor Kristi Noem
Health Care for the Poor
We call on Governor Daugaard to support expanded Medicaid to the poor, for these reasons:
1. Denial of health care to the poor is health care rationing, which we abhor;
2. Poor people who access emergency rooms are a burden on health care providers, and increase the cost to other patients;
3. The federal government will pay almost 100% of the cost;
4. If the fear is that the federal government will renege on its bargain to pay, the legislature can enact a "circuit-breaker" provision;
5. South Dakota cannot ignore its responsibility to citizens who are ill or injured or have life-threatening conditions; health care is a human right.
1. Denial of health care to the poor is health care rationing, which we abhor;
2. Poor people who access emergency rooms are a burden on health care providers, and increase the cost to other patients;
3. The federal government will pay almost 100% of the cost;
4. If the fear is that the federal government will renege on its bargain to pay, the legislature can enact a "circuit-breaker" provision;
5. South Dakota cannot ignore its responsibility to citizens who are ill or injured or have life-threatening conditions; health care is a human right.
Why is this important?
My clients have been personally affected.