Hal Wick

The only fight fiercer than big hospital groups battling each other for business in South Dakota might be when somebody wants a change in state law to make it easier  to take some of their patients.   The two big Sioux Falls health care organizations,...

 PIERRE — The state House of Representatives voted 40-19 Monday afternoon to give final passage to creating a school sentinels program in South Dakota.  The legislation goes next to Gov. Dennis Daugaard. It would allow school boards to place armed...

PIERRE — The Legislature returns today for its first, last and only week of five working days to bring the main run of the 2013 session to a close. Here’s a quick look at some of the key topics during the final week: State budgets  The...

 PIERRE — Managed care by insurance providers attempts to control costs of health services for patients. This legislative session, South Dakota lawmakers decide whether to let patients choose physicians and other health care services outside of...

PIERRE -- The state House of Representatives said Wednesday that patients in South Dakota should be allowed to choose their physicians and other health care services, rather than be limited to those under contract with the networks of their health...

Editor's note: As part of the coverage of the 2013 legislative session, the American News will provide, on most days, a list of 10 pieces of information helpful to understanding what is — and sometimes isn’t — happening at the state...

The Legislature’s battle over pursuing a federal balanced-budget amendment ended Tuesday as the final measure died like those before it last week, with lawmakers stuck between two outcomes they can’t control and don't like. The argument came...

 PIERRE — Rep. Manny Steele fell short of convincing enough members in the state House of Representatives to take the first step Thursday toward a national constitutional convention seeking a federal balanced-budget amendment.  House members voted...

Debate began Wednesday in the state House of Representatives on the controversial question of whether patients should be allowed to choose physicians outside of their insurance providers’ networks. But the discussion didn’t last long.  Rep....

 PIERRE — Physicians and other health care providers should be allowed to deliver services to patients enrolled in any insurance plans in South Dakota, if the providers are willing to meet the plans’ terms and conditions, a legislative panel...

A measure that would have seen South Dakota property owners face a higher pension fund levy for school districts was rejected Tuesday by the state House of Representatives.  House Bill 1239 sought to raise the maximum amount of the pension fund levy...

Editor's note: As part of the coverage of the 2013 legislative session, the American News will provide, on most days, a list of 10 pieces of information helpful to understanding what is — and sometimes isn’t — happening at the state...