BISMARCK, N.D. – North Dakota’s special session of its state legislature kicked off Wednesday with Governor Kelly Armstrong’s State of the State Address.
The session was called to appropriate $199 million in federal funds for the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program.
“This program is a pivotal step forward in strengthening North Dakota health care across the state,” Armstrong said.
He quoted a statistic that 75 percent of North Dakota’s rural counties face primary care shortages.
“Over the last 20 years, health care has concentrated in our largest communities, leaving our rural residents without adequate services. These challenges demand bold action,” he said. “By expanding access, promoting long-term wellness, and driving innovation, we have the chance to be the healthiest state in the nation.”
North Dakota’s application for the program, to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), ‘reflected thoughtful planning and collaboration,’ he said. Armstrong credited the priorities within the application to the residents, health care providers, tribal partners and community leaders in North Dakota – along with the North Dakota legislative leaders, staff from his office and from the Department of Health and Human Services.
“We appreciate the Rural Health Transformation Committee for greenlighting four pieces of legislation that significantly helped improve our application score with CMS,” Armstrong said. “Those four bills will require the presidential fitness test and PE courses, require nutrition education as part of physicians’ continuing education requirements, join the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact, and expand the scope of practice for pharmacists.”
He called the opportunity that lies ahead ‘a generational opportunity.’
“Not only to improve how health care is delivered to our citizens, but also help revitalize communities as people continue to seek out safe places to live with strong health care, great schools, and abundant economic opportunity,” he said.
