The South Dakota Department of Health has announced the release of its first round of Requests for Proposals (RFPs) under the Rural Health Transformation initiative. The program aims to improve healthcare access, modernize health technology, and support long-term sustainability in rural communities across the state.
Melissa Magstadt, Secretary of Health, stated, “The Rural Health Transformation initiative drives stronger, more integrated and connected health care systems to meet people where they are. This first round of RFPs provides opportunities for partners to support implementation efforts through key leadership and project management roles. These future contracts will help South Dakota improve access to care, modernize health technology systems, and strengthen long-term sustainability for our state’s communities.”
The announcement follows Governor Larry Rhoden’s recent State of the State Address in which he urged the legislature to prioritize funding for Rural Health Transformation. The legislature responded by passing HB 1044, which Governor Rhoden signed into law.
The initial set of RFPs includes several roles and programs:
- A grant program manager for digital health modernization who will help upgrade statewide digital health systems.
- Support for Medicaid Primary Accountable Care Transformation (PACT), focusing on developing new payment models based on provider performance and population health.
- A project manager position within the Department of Social Services (DSS) to coordinate cross-agency activities related to rural health transformation.
- Project management support for chronic disease management initiatives.
- Programming aimed at supporting caregivers with services, education, peer groups, training, and respite care resources.
- Expansion of chronic disease self-management programming in rural and western regions through training lay leaders and offering community workshops.
- Efforts to expand and strengthen the Community Health Worker (CHW) and Community Health Representative (CHR) workforce across South Dakota.
All current RFPs can be reviewed or applied for through the state’s posting board at https://postingboard.esmsolutions.com/3444a404-3818-494f-84c5-2a850acd7779/events. Applicants are advised to check eligibility requirements and submission instructions carefully.
Additional RFPs are expected as the initiative progresses. Updates will be provided to stakeholders as new opportunities become available.
More information about these efforts is available at ruralhealthtransformation.sd.gov.
The Rural Health Transformation initiative is supported by a $189 million award from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The content reflects only the views of South Dakota DOH and DSS.
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