The Latest News From SDAHO

Survey to study technology use for delivery of public health messaging

The South Dakota Department of Health Office of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, in collaboration with chronic disease partners and stakeholders, is conducting an environmental scan guided by the South Dakota Chronic Disease State Plan.

5 steps to prepare for switch to Medicare Beneficiary Identifier numbers

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is taking steps to remove Social Security numbers from Medicare cards in an effort to prevent fraud, fight identity theft and protect essential program funding and the private health care and financial information of beneficiaries.

Unified Voice newsletter moving to Fridays

In an effort to better align our array of communications for members, the association will be moving the weekly Unified Voice newsletter to a...

Senate introduces its version of AHCA

The Senate unveiled its version of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) on Thursday morning, briefing Republican members of the chamber before releasing the bill to the public. The full text of the 142-page bill is available online.

New LeadingAge center identifies workforce solutions

The new LeadingAge Center for Workforce Solutions will serve as a platform for members and state affiliates to engage in ongoing, collaborative problem-solving around workforce issues.

South Dakota Medicaid hosting webinar for nursing homes, hospice, assisted living facilities

South Dakota Medicaid is hosting a Monday, July 17 webinar to answer questions from nursing homes, hospice care, and assisted living facilities. The webinar begins at 10 a.m. CDT/8 a.m. MDT. If there are other specific questions you would like addresses, please forward those to Lori Lawson at any time.

Noem’s IHS bill seeks to boost recruitment and retention, restore accountability

Rep. Kristi Noem testified before a House subcommittee Wednesday in support of her bill to improve the recruitment and retention of Indian Health Service (IHS) employees and restore accountability in the agency.

Senate draft of AHCA expected on Thursday

The American Hospital Association (AHA) has issued a special bulletin noting that Senate leadership is expected to unveil its draft version of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) on Thursday.

Senate vote on AHCA likely by end of June

The Senate is expected to release its version of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) on Thursday or Friday of this week, with the...

SB147 stakeholders meet with state agencies

Community Support Providers (CSP) met with state agency officials last week to discuss the implementation of SB 147 – the act to establish a...

South Dakota receives initial approval for its HCBS state transition plan

On June 2, 2017, CMS granted South Dakota initial approval of its Statewide Transition Plan (STP) to bring settings into compliance with the federal...

Senate may consider equal funding for Medicaid in low-cost States

Senate Republicans may consider providing equal funding to states, like South Dakota, with low Medicaid spending costs. Sen. Mike Rounds has indicated that he...

Senate vote on the AHCA likely by end of June

We learned today that the Senate will release its version of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) on Thursday or Friday of this week,...

Officials concerned about dangers of fentanyl-laced heroin

South Dakota drug enforcement officials are concerned about the influx of a dangerous painkiller that is now being cut into heroin. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but 50 to 100 times more potent, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

CMS extends comment deadline for SNF advance notice of proposed rulemaking

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has extended the comment period for its advance notice of proposed rulemaking on potential revisions to the skilled nursing facility payment system.

Hoven hospital items up for bid

An auction lot of mostly non-medical equipment is up for bid Wednesday evening courtesy of a Hoven hospital that closed in 2010. Holy Infant Hospital, which opened in 1943, closed in 2010.

South Dakota receives initial approval for its HCBS state transition plan

On June 2, 2017, CMS granted South Dakota initial approval of its Statewide Transition Plan (STP) to bring settings into compliance with the federal home and community-based services (HCBS) regulations.

AHA: MACPAC issues June report to Congress

The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission has released its June report to Congress. The report includes a chapter examining how Medicaid programs are responding to the opioid epidemic, according to the American Hospital Association (AHA).

South Dakota’s first West Nile case of 2017 reported

South Dakota's first human West Nile virus (WNV) case of the year has been detected in Davison County in a person between the ages...

SD continuing to process revalidation submissions requested of all Medicaid providers

South Dakota is continuing to process the revalidation submissions requested of all Medicaid providers in the summer of 2016 in order to meet federal requirements. Given the large volume of applications to review and process, the revalidation process can take months to complete and approve.

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