• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard will likely recommend that the Legislature once again delay a decision on expanding the state's Medicaid program to cover the health care costs of more low-income people, he told The Associated Press on Friday.
• The Legislature earlier this year agreed with Daugaard's original recommendation to delay a decision on the expansion under the federal health care law.
• Daugaard said he is still leaning against expanding Medicaid, at least until he can obtain more information on who would be covered, how it would affect Native Americans who now get care from the Indian Health Service on reservations and whether federal officials would give South Dakota some leeway in deciding which income levels are covered.
• In addition, South Dakota might want to wait and see how President Obama's entire health care law works, Daugaard said.
• "In the face of uncertainty, I'm no different than anyone. One tends to be cautious and be more prone to wait and see until the landscape becomes clearer," Daugaard said.
• Organizations representing South Dakota doctors and hospitals have urged the state to expand Medicaid, arguing it will help the poor receive better and earlier care. Unpaid emergency room expenses incurred by low-income people are passed on to patients with private insurance, they said.
• "Expanding Medicaid will provide much needed coverage to our low-income patients, improve access to health care and improve the health and well-being of the newly insured. We know that those without coverage live sicker and die younger," said Dr. Daniel Heinemann, president of the South Dakota State Medical Association.
• The federal health care law seeks to provide more people with insurance through

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