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Federal grants totaling nearly $725,000 will be used to help defray costs of South Dakota’s insurance risk pool and establish a vaccination program for those covered by the risk pool.

South Dakota is one of 30 states receiving a portion of $49 million in grants.

“We think it’s going to make good sense in the long run,” said Randy Moses, assistant director of the South Dakota Division of Insurance.

The risk pool is meant to be a safety net for people who have lost their health insurance through no fault of their own and aren’t able to get another policy. The risk pool is funded largely by the state and the dozen firms licensed in the state to underwrite health insurance policies.

Currently, 672 people are enrolled in the risk pool, about 50 fewer than a year ago, Moses said.

The immunization program will pay for preventive vaccines, such as flu shots, for people in the risk pool. It’s meant to help keep people in the pool, who usually have health problems, healthier, Moses said.

The other grant, for $516,009, will help pay for losses incurred by the state to operate the risk pool, Moses said.

Information from: Argus Leader, http://www.argusleader.com