DSS listens to feedback on proposed Medicaid work requirements

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) - The South Dakota Department of Social Services (DSS) intends to submit an 1115 demonstration waiver application to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to implement a new initiative known as SDCareerLink.

Roughly 2,000 South Dakotans would be taken off Expanded Medicaid under the proposed work requirements, but it all depends on what happens at the federal level.

The Department of Social Services is close to wrapping up its public comment phase for its work requirement proposal process. The entire schedule is predicated on what is passed in Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill.

All input, whether submitted online or testified in person, will be a part of the state’s application.

“The input we get online and at forums like the one we had today and previously are really valuable so we’ll review each of the comments and figure whether there are places in the application where it might make sense for us to adjust,” DSS Medicaid Director Heather Petermann said.

Written comments may be submitted via email to MedicaidSPA@state.sd.us with the subject line “SDCareerLink Public Comment.”

Barring exceptions, Social Services expects roughly 2,000 individuals in the state to miss out on expanded Medicaid if SDCareerLink is approved by CMS.

One attendee of Thursday’s public comment session said she has concerns about what will happen to those who are taken off the program.

“We can’t share our healthcare, we can’t share our prescriptions, our cancer treatments, our surgeries, our visits with the rheumatologist or whatever. So, it’s a fundamental difference, if you lose your healthcare, it’s entirely different from the work requirement for other programs,” Cathy Brechtelsbauer said.

As it stands, the department will recognize if an individual has met any of the following work requirements: if they are employed, enrolled in job training, meet the requirements of another work programs such as SNAP and TANF, are a parent or caretaker of a child, elderly or disabled individual.

The following individuals are exempt from participation requirements:

• Individuals unable to work due to a physical or mental disability or individuals unable to work due to a medical reason
• Pregnant or postpartum women
• Individuals residing in an area considered exempt from SNAP’s able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) work requirements which have unemployment 20% or more above the national average.

Compliance with the requirements is not based on a monthly minimum number of hours and is not tied to monthly or quarterly reporting. Compliance will be verified at the time of the individual’s normal annual Medicaid renewal.

The work requirement application will be submitted to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services sometime in July or August of this year.