Push to expand Medicaid in South Dakota made a slight detour to Pierre last week. Now that lawmakers are in control, supporters are amplifying their message to voters before considering the idea this fall.
The state Senate opposed this idea, and some Republican lawmakers expressed concern about how the expansion would affect the budget. But the coalition behind the movement says it’s important to remember that the federal government bears most of the costs, not the states.
Jill Franken, a former director of the Sioux Falls Health Department and AARP South Dakota Volunteer Executive Councilor, still has questions on the November ballot, but is helping people in need of compensation, not government spending. He said he should focus on what he does.
“For some reason, if people are currently using Medicaid, there is an idea that they aren’t going to work that hard,” Franken said. “But that’s not the case. It’s really a benefit to people to have access when they need to see a doctor.”
The South Dakota Parliament’s Independent Legislative Research Council states that expanding Medicaid can cover more than 40,000 South Dakota states. The federal government has an annual support of at least $ 300 million and a state share of about $ 20 million.
But supporters also note that there are new federal incentives that can make it even more cost-friendly.
Franken said not providing compensation to these residents would actually put more pressure on the county’s budget. She said medical professionals see many positives in expanding Medicaid because they feel better about ensuring that patients can perform the care they need without causing disability. I did.
“There is a steady reimbursement rather than trying to charge the patient directly,” Franken said. “It’s a feeling that you also know that you haven’t crippled the person financially.”
South Dakota is one of 12 states that have not yet expanded Medicaid since it was first made available under the Affordable Care Act more than 10 years ago.
In addition to many lawmakers, Governor Kristi Noem opposes this idea. However, state-wide polls, including a recent survey of older people, appear to have strong support, with 65% of respondents saying they are likely to vote in favor.
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Ohio still has billions of American Rescue Planning Act (ARPA) funding, and supporters are calling for a public planning process to ensure that the needs of the community are met.
Of the more than $ 5 billion allocated to Buckeye, $ 2.7 billion has already been allocated.
William Tarter Jr., a Fellow of the Community Solutions Center, who launched the Greater Cleveland American Rescue Plan Council to explore ways to maximize the dollar, said two thinking schools have emerged.
“Some have said they’re going to get these money out of the door to meet the urgent needs of the community, while others are systematically and cautious because they have time,” Tarter said. Explained. “That’s why I want to make sure there’s a great chorus around the table that can inform those conversations.”
ARPA funds will be allocated by 31 December 2024 and must be used by the end of 2026.
Kim Marniks, director of the Office of Management and Budget, Governor Mike Dewein, said it was important to avoid investing in creating new programs with ongoing costs beyond when ARPA’s funds were exhausted. Claimed to be.
“Looking at what the state has already allocated some of the ARPA funding to something like infrastructure for children’s behavior-health hospitals,” Murnieks outlined. “These are one-time costs that bring lasting benefits to the community.”
Tarter added that the ARPA dollar can focus specifically on ensuring a fair and equitable recovery by working on affordable housing, improving medical access and helping workers. rice field.
“We will look at the different impacts of the pandemic and how they affected different parts of the population,” Tarter pointed out. “And I think it will be really interesting in terms of how those dollars are spent and how they meet the needs of different communities throughout the state.”
Murnieks said half of Ohio’s ARPA funds have already been allocated to the state and the rest to local governments.
“Therefore, we have the opportunity to approach counties, cities and municipalities, or if there are regional projects that can be profitable and funded through ARPA dollars, the state is not the only way,” Murnieks emphasized.
The advocacy group seeks public opinion on how money is spent.
Support for this report was provided by the Carnegie Foundation in New York.
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Governor Chris Sununu delivered a Governor’s address yesterday, focusing on the state’s handling of COVID-19, tax cuts, and federal investment.
Recent polls have shown that the number of New Hampshire residents who believe the state is moving in the right direction is declining. Almost 40% are worried that it is going in the wrong direction.
D-Manchester Rep. Matt Wilhelm said there were many references to freedom and that New Hampshire was ranked high in freedom in the state, but how many stories regularly affect granite citizens. He claimed to have overlooked that serious problem.
“It’s kind of like public education, paying teachers for what they say in the classroom, it’s really annoying,” Wilhelm outlined. “We also saw an abortion ban, which is very annoying, especially in one of the states that has been the most supportive of women’s choices in the past.”
Sunnu has announced two major plans for using funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP), including the Veterans Campus, along with housing and support services, as well as incentives to create an apartment complex project.
Wilhelm said ARP and bipartisan infrastructure laws were important, but the governor opposed them on transit.
Sununu also pointed out the federal funding coming for the school.
Zandra Rice Hawkins, executive director of the Granite State Progress Group, noted that the school’s voucher program, which the governor signed the law last year, has already exceeded the budget by $ 8 million. She said it meant that money was being paid to attend private schools, not to maintain and improve the experience of public schools.
“It will do a lot of damage to the public schools that the majority of our students attend,” Rice Hawkins insisted. “We wanted to see the governor move away from that position and promise to invest in the money we need for the future.”
Rice Hawkins acknowledged that the Governor had addressed the need to address mental health and substance abuse and agreed that it was important to address the issue.
“But the governor also needs to deal with economic instability, the gap between quality and affordable health care and housing, and how exclusive policies harm the health and well-being of community members.” Added Rice Hawkins. “We have never seen the governor tackle these issues the way we need them.”
Republican Sununu is running for reelection this year. Primary elections are held in September and general elections are held in November. So far, Democrats have not participated in the race.
Disclosure: The Granite State Progress Education Fund and Granite State Progress contribute to funding for reporting on budget policies and priorities, gun violence prevention, health issues, and women’s issues. If you would like to support the news for the public good, click here.
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Home caregivers in Washington are experiencing wage increases to survive the COVID-19 pandemic, and a new campaign is urging lawmakers to make wage increases permanent.
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local775 “Time for $ 20” campaign calls on lawmakers to raise the hourly wages of workers who care for people in their homes and long-term care facilities with this year’s budget.
Last year, Julie Sparkman, a home care assistant who cares for children in underlying health, was diagnosed with cancer.
“I didn’t have time to postpone what I needed. I don’t know how I would have lived indoors without paying for the hazard,” Sparkman said. “To be honest, I received all the salaries I received and knew I would be out of work for a while, so I paid a month’s rent.”
Hazard Pay pays an additional fee of approximately $ 3 per hour in the caregiver’s pocket. The temporary increase for individual providers was set to expire at the end of 2021, but was extended to March in SEIU Local 775. The session is scheduled to end in March, and state legislators are beginning to budget.
Fortunately, Sparkman explained that the cancer was in time. She called it the best of her bad scenarios, but her situation isn’t unique.
“I know that other people are now roaming in scenarios similar to the ones that save their lives are immediate actions,” Sparkman insisted.
Sparkman added that workers need to do their best to care for the most vulnerable people in the state.
“It leads to safer clients, which is why our work exists in the first place,” Sparkman insisted. “And if you can’t take care of yourself, how can you take care of others?”
Disclosure: SEIU 775 contributes to our fund for reporting on budget policies and priorities, health issues, and livable wages / working families. If you would like to support the news for the public good, click here.
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