The South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO) and the South Dakota Department of Health (SD DOH) were recognized as a high performing Flex state on quality reporting and performance among Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs).
According to a recent data analysis by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) and the Flex Monitoring Team (FMT), South Dakota ranked among the top 10 (tied for 6th place) out of 45 Flex Program states for outstanding CAH performance and reporting across inpatient, outpatient, HCAHPS, and Emergency Department Transfer Communication (EDTC) measures. Â This is marks the second consecutive year that South Dakota has received this recognition.
Each year the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) team acknowledges Flex states in several categories, one being MBQIP improvement, and this year South Dakota was recognized for progress in reporting of quality measures .This recognition highlights the collaborative efforts of SDAHO and the SD DOH in advancing rural healthcare quality through the Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP). South Dakota’s commitment to improving data reporting and care performance ensures better health outcomes for rural residents across the state.
Becky Heisinger, MBA, PMP, CGMS, CPHQ, Director of Rural Health Initiatives with SDAHO along with Michelle Hoffman, SD DOH Rural Hospital Programs Coordinator, attended the Flex Program Reverse Site Visit to accept the award. The event took place in Washington D.C. July 15-17, 2025.
