State Policy · SD
South Dakota Medicaid Agency Head Althoff Resigns, Interim Named
Matt Althoff has resigned as secretary of the South Dakota Department of Social Services, effective immediately, Gov. Larry Rhoden's office announced Friday. Brenda Tidball-Zeltinger, Althoff's deputy secretary with 35 years in state government, will serve as interim secretary. The department oversees Medicaid, TANF, child welfare, SNAP and behavioral health services in the state. Althoff, appointed in 2023 under former Gov. Kristi Noem, led the agency through Medicaid expansion implementation, new federal work requirements, and several reversed policy proposals including a hospital Medicaid reimbursement overhaul and TANF and child care assistance cuts.
Why it mattersThe leadership change creates near-term uncertainty for South Dakota's Medicaid expansion implementation and pending federal work requirement rollout as providers and managed care partners await direction from new leadership.