The South Dakota Legislature was active during this last legislative session working to resolve issues related to health care. The summer interim studies are slowly rolling out their schedules with the first round of meetings beginning in July. The largest and most encompassing summer study relates to South Dakota’s mental health services. There will be 5 separate committees looking at many parts of the puzzle related to the delivery of care in the communities and facilities across the State of South Dakota. This summer is when providers and facilities can make a diferrence in what happens next legislative session. Please take a look at the listed topics and see what you can bring to the table. These issues are multi-faceted and affect more than just mental health, this issue includes community involvement with the health care community. Please put these dates on your calendar and get involved.
July 9,2019 10:00 a.m. RM 362 Reduce the overall use of acute mental health hospitalizations by developing and supporting existing alternatives where appropriate, create community-based short-stay alternatives, and develop day treatment options.
 July 17, 2019 10:00 a.m. RM 413 Leverage telehealth and telemedicine to the full appropriate extent, with focus on the areas of acute assessment and crisis support, along with mental health assessments and counseling,
 July 17, 2019 10:00 a.m. RM 362 Redefine Human Service Center nursing home admission criteria and build mental health nursing home capacity for persons with organic brain damage.
 July 19, 2019 10:00 a.m. RM 413  Increase the capacity for transitional housing and residential services in communities to keep individuals closer to home, and develop caregiver supports.
Full committee and task force memberships can be viewed on 2019 Interim Page along with along with agendas, minutes, and other meeting documents. ​​
