PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – The Joint Health & Human Services Committee of the South Dakota legislature heard about the needs and shortfalls of health care providers during a hearing Tuesday in Pierre.

Tim Rave, President of the South Dakota Association of Health Care Organizations, says hospitals are trying to look ahead.

Rave says hospitals geared up to meet the crush of pandemic patients that didn’t develop.

Rave says hospitals took a big financial hit this spring.

The committee made recommendations on spending nearly $100 million in federal CARES Act funding.

Thirty-five million would go to long term care facilities with thirty million going to the hospitals.

The legislature will meet in a special session Oct. 5 to finalize those and other spending decisions.