The South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations met in Rapid City this week to discuss organizational affairs and to formulate a response to the proposed budget cuts. The president of the healthcare group says the cutbacks will have a particularly negative effect on Medicare recipients, who will have fewer options if the proposals take effect.

David R. Hewett says, "This will be a very trying time I think. Everyone is nervous. And we need to make sure that we are connecting with our Congressional delegation. We look forward to their addressing what we need in this bill."

Hewett says the cutbacks will be felt most acutely in western states such as South Dakota, with low populations and greater distances between medical centers.

Al Van Zee