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• People earning up to 138 percent of the poverty level -- $15,451 for a single person or $31,809 for a family of four -- would be covered by an expansion. The federal government would fully cover those added to Medicaid rolls through 2016, and the state's contribution would rise in stages to 10 percent of the costs by 2020.
• Federal officials earlier rejected Daugaard's request that South Dakota be allowed to expand Medicaid eligibility only up to 100 percent of the poverty level because those over that mark can qualify for subsidized private insurance. He has said he likely will renew that request.
• Rave said he could back a plan to expand Medicaid to those who need it most, for example a single mother working two part-time jobs to support two children. The kids likely are already covered by a Medicaid program but the mother might not qualify for Medicaid and cannot afford private insurance, he said.
• "I think most South Dakotans would go: 'Gosh, that seems the right thing to do. Let's figure out a plan to do that.'"
• Lust said both sides in the debate have compelling arguments. Expanding Medicaid would help low-income people, but the state also has to consider whether the federal government can afford to pay for the expansion, he said.
• The best solution would be to cover those most in need of insurance, Lust said.
• "Unfortunately, the federal government has prohibited that kind of flexibility. I'm hopeful that will change," Lust said.
• Rep. Susan Wismer, D-Britton, said she hopes South Dakota will seek a federal waiver to at least partially expand the program, suggesting the expansion could be passed with the provision it would be stopped if the federal government failed to meet its promise to pay for it.
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