PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – The South Dakota Farm Bureau is working on health care legislation with State Senator Gary Cammack (ka-MACK) of Union Center. Lobbyist Mike Held says they’re backing Senate Bill 87 which would authorize South Dakota Farm Bureau to offer a health benefit plan under a self-funded arrangement through a licensed third-party administrator.

He says there are many farmers and ranchers not covered by a health care plan and that propelled them to put together this measure.

Held says if they can get legislators to approve this bill, Farm Bureau hopes to get the program up and operating by this fall.

Held says they’re modeling this major health care plan after one started by the Tennessee Farm Bureau 17 years ago. That plan caught on in Farm Bureau’s two years ago in Iowa, Michigan, Indiana, and Kansas.