Sioux Falls Business Journal

Potential federal funding cuts to Medicare Advantage plans could result in the loss of some health-care benefits for more than 6,200 South Dakotans, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Proposals in Congress to reduce payments would result in a $34 million cut over five years in South Dakota.
Medicare Advantage plans offer coordinated care with a network of doctors as well as additional health-care services Medicare does not cover.
"Medicare Advantage plans help seniors get better value for their health-care dollars by offering added benefits at lower premiums," said Mike Leavitt, secretary for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "They are also helping provide coverage to underserved populations such as rural communities and those with limited incomes. We must protect this popular alternative for all Medicare beneficiaries."

South Dakota feedlots with at least 1,000 capacity reported 230,000 cattle on feed May 1 for the slaughter market.
That number is up 30,000 from one year ago, but unchanged from April, according to the South Dakota office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Placements during April totaled 36,000 head, up 8,000 from last year but down 4,000 head from March.
Marketings of fed cattle during April totaled 34,000 head, down 1,000 head from last year and down 3,000 from March.

Brooks Construction of Sioux Falls and Western Forms of Kansas City will hold an open house from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday at a concrete fourplex at 2408 W. 10th St.
The open house will include a tour of the home and a review of the aluminum-form technology used to build the house.
Brooks Construction says the home is extremely energy efficient and resistant to mold, fire, termites, storms and wood rot.
Staff members with Brooks Construction and Western Forms will be at the open house to answer questions about the new building technique.