The bill amends South Dakota's rural recruitment assistance program to expand eligibility to include chiropractors and optometrists, alongside existing health care professionals such as certified nurse midwives, certified nurse practitioners, dentists, physicians, and physician assistants. Specifically, it modifies Section 34-12G-1 to list these additional professions and establishes new sections that outline the eligibility criteria for chiropractors and optometrists, requiring them to be licensed and to agree to practice in eligible rural communities for a minimum of three years. The bill also specifies that no more than two chiropractors and two optometrists may participate in the program at any one time.

Additionally, the bill makes several amendments to existing sections, including changes to the language regarding the incentive payments for participating health care professionals. It clarifies that a health care professional who fulfills the program's requirements is entitled to receive an incentive payment equivalent to twice the University of South Dakota School of Medicine resident tuition for the most recent academic years. The bill also modifies the obligations of rural communities in terms of their contribution to the incentive payments, detailing the percentage of the total amount they must provide based on community size. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the recruitment of essential health care providers in rural areas of South Dakota.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/22/2025: 34-12G-1, 34-12G-3, 34-12G-4, 34-12G-5