By: Chad Franzen Posted at: 02/03/2010 03:07 PM
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - A South Dakota Senate committee has endorsed a plan to build a nursing home on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
The state has had a ban on new nursing homes for more than 20 years, but the bill would grant an exception to allow construction of a nursing home on the reservation in western South Dakota.
Sen. Jim Bradford of Pine Ridge says a nursing home is needed on the reservation because elderly tribal members now stay in facilities far from Pine Ridge. He says the tribe has not yet identified how it would pay for building a nursing home.
State officials have objected to similar bills in past years because a new nursing home could increase state spending on Medicaid. No state officials testified at Wednesday's hearing.
