Healthcare

This bill is a legislative commemoration that formally recognizes the nonprofit organization Oaye Luta Okolakiciye, known as "Moving Forward in a Sacred Way." The resolution acknowledges the organization's work in providing trauma-informed care to Lakota communities in South Dakota by integrating Lakota spirituality, language, and kinship systems into behavioral health services. It highlights the group's volunteer-driven approach to supporting families and promoting cultural continuity on reservations and in surrounding areas. The bill does not change laws or allocate funding but serves to honor the organization's contributions to Lakota wellness and community stability.

This bill honors Dr. Margaret Becker by formally recognizing her as the recipient of the 2025 Copic Humanitarian Award. It acknowledges her work as a physician at Monument Health Spearfish Clinic and her eight-year role as medical director of the Good Shepherd Free Clinic, where she has provided care to patients who might otherwise lack access to medical attention. The legislation designates the Good Shepherd Free Clinic as the recipient of the $10,000 donation associated with the award, which Dr. Becker chose to direct toward her clinic. This commemorative resolution celebrates her volunteer medical services and contributions to improving lives in western South Dakota.

SB 211 prohibits ambulance providers from billing patients for out-of-network emergency services beyond required coinsurance, copayments, or deductibles. It requires health insurance plans to reimburse out-of-network ambulance providers at local rates (or 325% of Medicare rates if no local rate exists) within 30 days, and mandates clear billing explanations for patients. The law also establishes a complaint process through the Division of Insurance for violations and requires the division to post reimbursement rates online by 2027. It excludes self-funded employer plans, Medicaid, Medicare, and other federally regulated programs from these rules.

HB 1292 limits South Dakota health insurance companies' ability to take back payments they've already made for medical services. It requires insurers to provide written notice at least 30 days in advance if they seek to recoup a payment, and restricts such actions to claims paid within the previous 18 months (with exceptions for fraud, Medicare/Medicaid, workers' compensation, or duplicate payments). The bill establishes a dispute resolution process through the Division of Insurance for disagreements, preventing insurers from withholding future payments during the review. This directly affects healthcare providers (like doctors and clinics) who receive payments from insurers and the insurers themselves, applying to claims for services provided on or after July 1, 2026.

HB 1274 prohibits the delivery or distribution of abortion-inducing medicine, drugs, or substances into South Dakota for purposes of an illegal abortion, with exceptions for self-administration by a pregnant person, life-saving medical procedures, or miscarriage management. It establishes a Class 6 felony for violating this prohibition, imposes civil penalties up to $10,000 per dose, and allows civil lawsuits for wrongful death of an unborn child by specific parties (e.g., parents, the pregnant person, or their estate). The bill directly affects medical providers, pharmacies, and anyone transporting such substances into the state, while exempting individuals acting in self-defense or under medical necessity. The attorney general may seek injunctions to stop violations and collect civil penalties for deposit into a state fund.

HB 1299 allows small lodging establishments (with 15 or fewer sleeping rooms) to apply for a permit to use biological filtration systems in their water recreational facilities, such as pools or spas. These systems filter water naturally using plants, beneficial bacteria, and microbes - without relying on continuous chemical disinfectants - to meet public health and safety standards. To obtain a permit, establishments must submit proof the system meets water quality requirements, pay a $50 fee, and undergo annual department inspections. If an inspection fails, the permit is revoked, and reapplication is barred for one year. The bill requires the department to establish rules for applications, maintenance, and testing procedures.

HB 1279 permits technical college employees in South Dakota to join the state health plan, directly affecting permanent staff working 20+ hours weekly at least six months yearly. The bill requires the technical college’s local education agency (LEA) to pay equivalent monthly contributions instead of the state, and removes previous restrictions preventing these employees from enrolling. Key provisions include defining "technical college employee" and ensuring LEAs cover the same cost as the state does for other plan-eligible employees. The law takes effect July 1, 2027, and applies only to technical college staff, not other state workers.

SB 233 prohibits health insurance carriers from charging administrative fees or penalties to healthcare providers for care involving out-of-network providers. This directly affects health care providers who treat patients using out-of-network services and health carriers that typically impose such fees. The bill’s key provision bans carriers from assessing these fees for any care provided by a provider not contracted with the carrier (defined as "out-of-network"). It creates a clear policy change requiring carriers to cover such care without additional administrative costs to providers.

HB 1255 requires South Dakota's Department of Health to accept medical records from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) when veterans apply for a medical cannabis registry ID card. Veterans must submit VA records (within three years) showing a debilitating condition, along with proof of an honorable military discharge, to qualify under this provision. This eliminates the need for veterans to obtain a new certification from a South Dakota healthcare provider for the card application. The bill applies specifically to veterans meeting these documentation requirements, streamlining access to medical cannabis registry cards.

HB 1276 establishes strict rules for using solitary confinement in South Dakota's juvenile facilities. It prohibits solitary confinement for discipline, punishment, or convenience - allowing it only when a juvenile poses an immediate risk of physical harm to self or others. The bill requires facilities to first try less restrictive methods, get approval from a facility leader, and form an interdisciplinary team (including mental health staff and administrators) to review cases within 24 hours and reassess weekly if confinement lasts more than seven days. Facilities must document all cases, provide continuous monitoring (every 15 minutes in-person), ensure access to basic needs like medical care and education, and notify parents within one business day. This applies directly to all juveniles held in state-operated juvenile facilities.