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Earlier this year, the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO) launched an updated and expanded LifeCircle webpage—making it easier than ever to access hospice resources, education, and engagement opportunities. This includes hospice care!
What is Hospice Care?
Hospice is specialized care focused on comfort, dignity, and quality of life for individuals facing a terminal illness. An interdisciplinary team—physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, aides, volunteers, and bereavement professionals—supports both patients and families, addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
Most hospice services are covered under the Medicare Hospice Benefit, with many private insurers and Medicaid programs also providing coverage. Eligibility typically requires a life expectancy of six months or less if the illness runs its normal course.
SDAHO LifeCircle offers Comprehensive Hospice Resources
The LifeCircle Hospice page is organized to make navigation simple and intuitive, whether you are a provider, policymaker, patient, or family member.
Legislative & Regulatory Resources
Users can access direct links to:
- South Dakota Hospice Statutes and administrative rules
- Medicaid billing and policy guidance
- Residential hospice facility regulations
- Perinatal hospice and palliative care information
- Department of Health Hospice provider listings
- Federal resources from CMS, including the Hospice Prospective Payment System, Quality Reporting Program, Conditions of Participation (CoPs), and Medicare manuals
These tools help providers stay compliant and informed in a rapidly evolving regulatory environment.
Clinical & Professional Resources
Medical professionals can find:
- Core roles and responsibilities in hospice care
- National hospice locators
- Statewide hospice service area information
- Connections to national hospice and palliative care organizations
These resources support quality care delivery and workforce education.
Patient & Family Support
Families can explore trusted support organizations offering:
- Advance care planning tools
- Caregiver support materials
- Grief and bereavement resources
- Financial and wish-granting assistance programs
The goal is to ensure no family navigates end-of-life care alone.
Hospice Service Area Webpage
One of the most valuable features of the updated site is the Hospice Service Area page.
South Dakota’s rural geography presents unique challenges to care access. The interactive hospice service map provides a clear visual representation of coverage across the state:
This tool allows:
- Providers to identify partnership or expansion opportunities
- Communities to better understand local hospice availability
- Policymakers to visualize service gaps
- Families to quickly locate hospice providers in their region
As our state’s aging population grows, innovative solutions and collaboration will be critical to expanding access in underserved areas. The Hospice Service Area webpage is designed to support that effort with transparent, easy-to-understand data.
We encourage members and stakeholders to explore the LifeCircle Hospice page, utilize the available tools, and share these resources within your communities.
🔗 Visit LifeCircle at lifecircle.sdaho.org
