As South Dakota faces ongoing nursing facility closures, the South Dakota Department of Social Services is seeking input for its Rural Health Transformation plan.
Since 2016, the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations has recorded closures of nursing facilities across the state.
Justin Hinker, vice president of SDAHO’s post-acute care, told South Dakota Public Broadcasting that many facilities never recovered from the pandemic, and supporting nursing facilities is a healthcare and economic issue for small towns in South Dakota.
Currently South Dakota ranks seventh in the nation with a closure rate exceeding 12.5 percent.
The Rural Health Transformation plan is a $50 billion fund designed to support rural healthcare providers from 2026 to 2030
Federal guidelines indicate that applications for this fund should address challenges such as improving healthcare access, technology integration, and strengthening partnerships.
According to a statement from DSS, all states are eligible to apply and could receive a minimum of $100 million a year for five years.
The Governor’s Office will submit South Dakota’s application this fall.
