South Dakota

The South Dakota Rural Workforce Network Grant, funded by HRSA, invests over $1.15 million to support sustainable healthcare workforce pipelines statewide. It builds recruitment, training, and partnerships to address rural workforce shortages. The initiative targets vital support roles such as CNAs, medical assistants, and lab technicians. Key contacts: Lindsay Stroman

South Dakota has announced the first and second rounds of its Rural Health Transformation Program RFPs for 2026, signaling the implementation phase of the state's RHTP efforts. This expands opportunities for rural hospitals to participate in care delivery and payment transformation projects. Application instructions direct potential applicants to the state procurement portal. Event schedule: - First Round of Rural Health Transformation Requests for Proposals announced - 02/25/2026 - Second Round of Rural Health Transformation Requests for Proposals announced - 03/03/2026

South Dakota was awarded approximately $189.4M in FY2026 under the Rural Health Transformation Program, with a comprehensive, state-led strategy targeting rural hospital stabilization, Medicaid payment transformation, digital health infrastructure, and rural workforce expansion. Core initiatives include health IT modernization, alternative payment models, EMS regionalization, expanded maternal and behavioral health services, and workforce recruitment and retention efforts. The program directly addresses rural health disparities across all 64 rural counties, including Tribal and frontier populations.

This announcement provides guidance and tips for applicants seeking funding under the Rural Strong Grants RFP in South Dakota. The state anticipates Year 1 awards between $200,000 and $3,000,000. It outlines key steps, recommended exhibits, and proposal instructions for rural healthcare providers interested in the program. Key contacts: info@sdaho.org

South Dakota was awarded over $189 million in federal Rural Health Transformation Program funding for FY2026. An initial $89.4 million will be made available through the Digital Health Modernization and Technology Grant Program, launching in 2026, to support EHR and technology upgrades for rural and underserved providers. Grant funding will also cover interoperability, cybersecurity, workforce training, and network development projects across eligible provider types. Event schedule: - Grant Period 1 Start Date - 02/20/2026 - Grant Period 1 End Date - 10/30/2026 - Grant Period 1 Spending Deadline - 09/30/2027 - Tentative RFA Release - 03/31/2026

This announcement highlights the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations' central RHTP Resource Hub. It includes direct links to the state's RHTP website, member guidance, webinars, and recent updates such as the EMS RFP addendum clarifying contract dates. Event schedule: - Announcement posted - July 17, 2026 - https://sdaho.org/rural-health-transformation-project-resources/

The timeline for 2026 outlines phased approaches starting with foundational RFPs and planning in Q1 focused on technology, Medicaid transformation, chronic disease, and behavioral health. Major programmatic solicitations and awards begin in spring and early summer, with additional rounds and enhanced behavioral health and remote monitoring initiatives later in the year. Event schedule: - Launch of foundational RFPs and planning efforts - January-March 2026 - Major release of programmatic RFPs and RFAs - March-May 2026 - Transition from planning to program launch with initial awards - June 2026 - Additional funding rounds and technical assistance with expanded initiatives - Summer-Fall 2026

South Dakota's PACT initiative establishes a new Medicaid primary care payment and quality incentive model, with $62.7M in grant funding for infrastructure, care management, and technology. The program aims to sustain rural primary care practices by shifting to value-based prospective payments, focusing on prevention, population health, and provider team support. Implementation runs from 2026-2030, beginning with planning and launching statewide in 2028.

This initiative aims to modernize rural health IT infrastructure in South Dakota through funding for EHR adoption, telehealth integration, and operational resilience. It includes launching innovation centers and a health data atlas to improve care coordination and public data access.

This initiative focuses on expanding evidence-based chronic disease management programs in rural South Dakota, including funding for rural healthcare providers and caregiver support. It aims to improve health outcomes through sustainable community-based interventions and enhanced care coordination.

South Dakota's EMS initiative targets the development of EMS Hubs to improve coverage and response times, expands workforce training, and integrates advanced technology including telemedicine. The program aims to enhance rural emergency response sustainability and coordination statewide.

The initiative will establish a statewide digital training platform and deliver virtual and in-person training to enhance rural healthcare workforce capabilities. It aims to improve care quality and provider retention through professional development.

The South Dakota Rural Health Transformation Program strategic plan (2025-2031) proposes statewide investment in workforce, technology, and system transformation to improve rural health outcomes, reduce disparities, and strengthen hospital and clinic sustainability. Four core areas guide the strategy: modernizing health IT and data, addressing rural workforce recruitment and retention, preserving and optimizing facility access, and advancing sustainable EMS and behavioral health systems. The plan prioritizes rural/Tribal population needs, emphasizes local flexibility and partnerships, and aims for long-term sustainable impact.

This document walks providers and stakeholders through the steps needed to access current RHTP funding opportunities in South Dakota via the state's Open SD portal. It explains how to search for relevant RFPs, reviews key proposal requirements, deadlines, and outlines the evaluation process. No funding amounts, recipients, or award announcements are included. Key contacts: info@sdaho.org