Shawn O'Neal
Senior Regional Media Advocacy Manager
Cancer Patients, Survivors Travel to Pierre to Urge Legislators to Leave Medicaid Expansion, Tobacco Fund in Place
South Dakota Day at the Capitol Puts Spotlight on Cancer Policy
January 22, 2025
PIERRE, S.D. –– American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) advocates will arrive at the Statehouse Wednesday for their annual Day at the Capitol. Cancer patients, survivors, their families and caregivers will ask lawmakers to make cancer a policy priority by leaving Medicaid expansion in place as voters intended and to refuse to adopt outgoing Gov. Kristi Noem’s budget proposal, which would strip 60% of the annual funding to the South Dakota Tobacco Prevention and Control fund.
“Taking health care away from South Dakotans and giving Big Tobacco even more of a voice in the state are not the kinds of health outcomes anybody wants,” ACS CAN South Dakota Government Relations Director Ben Hanson said. “We look forward to talking to lawmakers about these and other issues."
New statistics show 5,870 South Dakotans will be diagnosed with cancer in 2025, which is more than was estimated for 2024. An estimated 1,790 people will die from the disease this year alone. Those traveling to the Statehouse will call on legislators to change that by:
• Keeping Medicaid expansion in place as it was intended by South Dakota voters, who approved the program at better than 60%.
• Reject the budget gimmick that would strip $3 million from Tobacco Prevention and Control fund and funnel it into the general fund, which already receives $30 million annually in tobacco tax funds per a 2006 voter initiative, which set the terms of the deal.
• Pass supplemental diagnostic imaging legislation soon to be introduced by Rep. Brandei Schaefbauer of Aberdeen. It would require all state-regulated health policies to eliminate patient out-of-pocket costs for medically necessary diagnostic and supplemental breast imaging and require breast diagnostic mammograms (x-rays), breast ultrasounds, and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans be covered by insurers at no-cost-share when they meet certain criteria. South Dakotans would be able to complete the full continuum of breast cancer screening without having to make excruciating financial choices about basic daily needs over their long-term health.
“I am very excited to bring forth this life saving piece of legislation,” Schaefbauer said. “Preventative screening is shown to saves lives and lower future health care costs. I would never want a patient to forgo screening because a testing mechanism is not covered which the health care provider deems medically necessary due to the uniqueness of her person, family history or anatomy. My hope is that we in the South Dakota legislature can assist in this important preventative care legislation.”
ACS CAN encourages individuals, businesses and organizations that are interested in getting involved in the fight against cancer to visit https://www.fightcancer.org/states/south-dakota
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