BISMARCK — Gov. Kelly Armstrong informed legislative leaders on Friday, Dec. 5, that he has identified Jan. 21 as the tentative date for a special session of the 69th Legislative Assembly.

Armstrong indicated the special session would act on anticipated federal funding for North Dakota’s Rural Health Transformation Program.

According to a release from the Governor’s Office, North Dakota has submitted a funding application to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Nov. 3, which outlined how the state will invest more than $500 million over five years to strengthen rural healthcare. These updates are intended to improve access, quality and outcomes for residents in rural communities. The award decision from CMS is expected by Dec. 31.

Once awarded, the legislature must appropriate the dollars before they can be spent, necessitating the special session.

“We have an incredible opportunity to strengthen and reshape rural health care in North Dakota through the Rural Health Transformation Program,” Armstrong said. “I appreciate the collaboration with legislative leadership and look forward to a special session laser-focused on the task at hand – appropriating these federal dollars in the most efficient and effective way possible to improve the well-being of our citizens.”

The Rural Health Transformation Program was signed into law as part of the federal Working Families Tax Cut Act. It empowers North Dakota to reimagine how rural health care is delivered and create innovative, lasting solutions that meet the needs of local communities.

The governor’s release said the state’s application was shaped predominantly from stakeholder feedback and support from North Dakota lawmakers gathered from a 30-day survey conducted by the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services and three listening sessions.