House Delays Vote on Inadequate Noem Healthcare Bill
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The South Dakota Democratic Party released the following statement responding to today’s decision by House leadership to delay a vote on Rep. Kristi Noem’s inadequate healthcare plan:
“Today’s decision is a victory for the health and well-being of the people of South Dakota. Kristi Noem’s healthcare bill would mean 25,000 South Dakotans could lose their health care and our state could lose $300 million in Medicaid funding.Further, in an attempt to cater to the most extreme elements of her party, the bill was made even worse, as Republicans moved to eliminate Essential Health Benefits from Americans’ coverage, which means that insurance companies will no longer be required to cover the following services:
- Pediatric services, including oral and vision care
- Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment (this includes counseling and psychotherapy)
- Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management
- Pregnancy, maternity, and newborn care (both before and after birth)
- Ambulatory patient services (outpatient care you get without being admitted to a hospital)
- Emergency services
- Hospitalization (like surgery and overnight stays)
- Prescription drugs
- Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices (services and devices to help people with injuries, disabilities, or chronic conditions gain or recover mental and physical skills)
- Laboratory services
“After this and other changes to the bill made to satisfy Republican extremists, the CBO found the bill became far more expensive while still costing 24 million Americans their healthcare. Fortunately, despite Kristi Noem’s support of this inadequate bill, it does not currently have the votes to pass. We call on Rep. Noem to work across the aisle to find real solutions to the challenges facing our healthcare system which help improve affordability and coverage for all South Dakotans.”
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