Larry Rhoden signed into law this legislative session approves spending of federal funds for South Dakota’s Rural Health Transformation Program. The federal government awarded South Dakota $189.5 million to carry out the first year of the five-year program. The funding comes from $50 billion Congress included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act , in response to concerns that the bill’s Medicaid cuts will hurt rural health providers. The state plans to use the money to recruit health care professionals to rural areas, modernize facilities and expand access to care — including to behavioral health and maternal and infant care. The state Department of Health will share quarterly expense reports about the program with the Legislative Research Council and the Department of Legislative Audit.