South Dakota voters on Nov. 5 passed Amendment F, which would change the state constitution to allow for work requirements to be added to the state's Medicaid expansion program. However, they defeated IM 28, which could have undone years of progress in tobacco control efforts by allowing lawmakers to undo tobacco taxes. The following is a statement from Lisa Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN.)
“The passage of Amendment F in South Dakota this week opens a dangerous and life-threatening door to add work requirements to the state's Medicaid expansion program. Doing so would erect new barriers to accessing health insurance for individuals who have no other affordable health coverage option and will result in others who already have Medicaid coverage to lose it. ACS research has shown time and again that access to health insurance is a significant determining factor in surviving a cancer diagnosis. If lawmakers take action to add work requirements to the state's Medicaid expansion program as a result of this constitutional change, they will be putting lives at risk.
“ACS CAN has long advocated against Medicaid work requirements which have failed in other states to achieve their stated outcomes. Not only do work requirements not increase employment, they instead leave individuals and families uninsured and more vulnerable to illness, like cancer, ultimately making it more difficult for residents to contribute to their communities. Further, individuals who are dealing with serious illnesses like cancer often have to stop working during their treatment – withdrawing their health insurance as a result is barbaric.
“We urge South Dakota lawmakers to let this end here and reject any proposals to add dangerous work requirements to their Medicaid expansion program, which has resulted in more than 27,000 additional South Dakotans gaining health coverage since its implementation in 2023.
“South Dakota voters rejected a measure this week that could have undone the state tobacco taxes, making deadly tobacco products more accessible to young people. Tobacco is the number one cause of preventable death and the cause of roughly 30% of all cancer deaths. This year, nationwide youth tobacco use rates fell to a 25-year low, thanks largely to implementation of proven tobacco control policies like increased tobacco taxes. We must continue what we know works to protect our young people from a lifetime of addiction to tobacco.
“ACS CAN is grateful to our staff and volunteers in South Dakota who tirelessly worked to protect public health at the polls this election season. We look forward to working with newly elected officials at all levels of government to advance our mission to end cancer as we know it, for everyone."
