South dakota rural health transformation plan - south dakota rural health transformation project summary organization: office of the governor, state of south dakota lead agency: south dakota…

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services awarded the South Dakota Department of Health a $568.432 million cooperative agreement on December 29, 2025, under the Rural Health Transformation Program (CFDA 93.798) to modernize rural healthcare infrastructure and delivery systems across South Dakota through October 30, 2030.

The recipient will deploy certified electronic health record systems, telehealth platforms, and integrated health information exchange to connect rural providers. The award funds workforce development through recruitment incentives, retention supports, and expansion of community health worker training and certification. The department will strengthen access to quality care through innovative payment models, facility reinvention, enhanced chronic disease and maternal health services, and integration of behavioral health into primary care. The initiative also reinforces emergency medical services across the state and creates a rural data atlas to support evidence-based planning.

Performance occurs in South Dakota. The South Dakota Department of Health, operating as a division of the Office of the Governor, serves as the prime recipient.

Sub-recipients deliver specialized components. The South Dakota Foundation For Medical Care expands the doula workforce through recruitment, training, and certification (awarded July 22, 2026), provides caregiver support programming (awarded August 4, 2026), and supports overall Rural Health Transformation coordination and implementation (awarded June 22, 2026). South Dakota Doulas expands and strengthens the doula workforce through recruitment, training, and workforce development (awarded September 1, 2026). Senior Citizens Services, Inc. delivers caregiver support programming (awarded July 22, 2026).

South dakota rural health transformation plan - south dakota rural health transformation project summary organization: office of the governor, state of south dakota lead agency: south dakota department of health total budget: $1,000,000,000 over 5 years overview: south dakota's rural health transformation plan addresses the state's health access challenges in one of america's most rural states. Rural and frontier residents often face long distances to providers, limited transportation, lower incomes, and workforce shortages that strain hospitals and clinics. These factors contribute to higher rates of suicide and chronic disease. This five-year initiative invests strategically to build capacity and resilience within rural healthcare systems to ensure access to quality care endures far beyond this grant period. Strategic approach & project goals the plan advances four interconnected goals. First, IT modernizes south dakota's health infrastructure through expanded electronic health records, telehealth platforms, and data systems that support smarter resource use. Second, IT builds a sustainable healthcare workforce by attracting and retaining professionals and expanding the community health worker network third, IT strengthens access to quality care close to home through innovative payment models, facility reinvention, and enhanced chronic disease and maternal health services. Fourth, IT transforms care delivery by integrating behavioral health into primary care and reinforcing emergency medical services across the state. To achieve these goals, the plan focuses on: 1. Connecting technology & data: deploy certified EHR systems, integrate health information exchange, fund telehealth equipment and platforms, support cybersecurity enhancements, and create a rural data atlas for evidence-based planning. 2. Advancing the rural workforce: provide recruitment incentives and retention supports for healthcare professionals, expand community health worker training and certification, and establish a training and resource hub for continuing education. 3. Keeping healthcare local and strong: explore new medicaid payment models, award rural health access and quality grants for facility optimization, strengthen chronic disease management programs, and improve access to maternal care. 4. Transforming systems for sustainability: implement certified community behavioral health clinics statewide, integrate behavioral health into primary care through the collaborative care model, and establish regional emergency medical services hubs. Together, these goals create a more connected, capable, and resilient rural health system to improve access, quality, and outcomes for all south dakotans.