Effective September 17, the South Dakota Department of Health- Office of Rural Health (ORH) updated the eligibility criteria for the Recruitment Assistance Program. The changes affect the needs assessment that is conducted for each application.
Overview of Changes
- A community is now eligible if the assessment indicates a need for at least an additional 0.25 FTE for all provider types.
- The ratio of dentist FTE to population decreased to 1 FTE per 3,000 people.
- Provider FTE at Indian Health Service facilities are no longer factored into the need assessment.
- The weight of physician FTE is lowered for need assessments of physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurse midwives.
The SD ORH is also rolling out a new webpage with additional information on the program. For the full description of program requirements, maps of current and historic participating communities, community and State payment amounts, and the number of open slots for each provider type, visit the Recruitment Program website.
Please contact Jill Dean in the Office of Rural Health with any questions about the Recruitment Assistance Program at 1-800-738-2301 or jill.dean@state.sd.us.
