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If South Dakota does opt to expand its Medicaid program, a system of health care through video connections will be a significant part of the improvements intended for the Indian Health Service's treatment of patients on reservations.

The video system, dubbed tele-health, would link IHS patients to the Avera and Sanford health systems, meaning patients and their doctors can be many miles from each other, yet still have appointments.

The IHS solicitation for competitive bidding for the tele-health service will be written within the coming weeks and should be issued no later than the end of February, Carol Diaz, IHS chief contracting officer for the Great Plains area, told members of the state's Medicaid coalition last week.

“I’m trying to push it (solicitation) along as soon as possible,” Diaz said.

The coalition was formed by Gov. Dennis Daugaard to explore the expansion of Medicaid in the state. Medicaid provides health coverage to low-income and disabled people.

Daugaard’s senior adviser Kim Malsam-Rysdon has said the expansion would make about 48,500 South Dakota residents newly eligible for the program. Daugaard has said he would favor the expansion provided the state's share of the cost is covered by savings.