South Dakota Department of Social Services Secretary Matt Althoff fields questions from advocates for people with disabilities on Sept. 10, 2025, during a public hearing at the Sioux Falls One Stop building. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)
SIOUX FALLS — Emotional testimony spilled out Wednesday as about 75 people pleaded with South Dakota social services officials to halt a proposed rule change that testifiers said could drastically slash Medicaid reimbursements for LifeScape, the state’s primary caretaker for people with complex disabilities.
“You cannot change this funding and ask us to ‘hope’ that it’s OK,” said Erin Horstmeyer, whose disabled son received care from LifeScape before he died…