PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — An expansion of South Dakota's Medicaid program would improve health care for thousands of low-income people and could boost the state economy, but it also could put a strain on medical providers and increase state spending, a task force decided Tuesday.

The task force, appointed by Gov. Dennis Daugaard to study the issue, was set up to identify the advantages and disadvantages of expanding Medicaid. After some last-minute changes are made to its approximately 40-page draft report, the task force findings will be used by Daugaard and the South Dakota Legislature as they decide whether to expand the state-federal program that provides health care for low income people.

Task Force Chair Deb Bowman, a senior aide to the governor, said the 29 members of the panel did a good job of studying the issue without allowing their personal opinions to interfere during a series of four meetings over the past five months.