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SDPB Radio Coverage of the South Dakota Legislature. See all coverage and find links to audio and video streams live from the Capitol at www.sdpb.org/statehouse

Audiology Services Bill Passes The SD Senate

A bill that allows insurance to cover hearing impairment treatment for minors passed the South Dakota Senate. Democratic State Senator Billie Sutton says these types of services can be expensive for parents and can cause financial hardships.

"Some of the challenges that parents have faced when they have a kid with hearing loss and some of the struggles they’ve went through to provide for their child. Because what we heard consistently is, they would do whatever it took to provide hearing services for their child," the Democratic State Senator says.

Sutton says SB 122 is designed to help cushion the financial burden for parents with a hearing impaired child. The proposal includes the services for hearing treatment but does not include the cost of a hearing aid. This bill passed the Senate Floor unanimously and it goes next to the House for a committee hearing.

Nate Wek is currently the sports content producer and sports and rec beat reporter for South Dakota Public Broadcasting. He is a graduate of South Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism Broadcasting and a minor in Leadership. From 2010-2013 Nate was the Director of Gameday Media for the Sioux Falls Storm (Indoor Football League) football team. He also spent 2012 and 2013 as the News and Sports Director of KSDJ Radio in Brookings, SD. Nate, his wife Sarah, and three sons, Braxan, Jordy, and Anders live in Canton, SD.