Black Hills Special Services Cooperative has been selected by the South Dakota Department of Health to provide project management support for the state’s Rural Health Transformation initiative, specifically for chronic disease management. The South Dakota-based organization, operating since 1980, will deploy a project management team with experience in chronic disease and established partnerships across the state to support the initiative. The team will serve as a liaison among funded entities, including health organizations and schools implementing evidence-based interventions.
The selection is part of broader efforts to move the Rural Health Transformation initiative from planning into implementation. Gov. Larry Rhoden stated that “supporting rural health is a key component of” his vision to keep South Dakota “strong, safe, and free.” Black Hills Special Services Cooperative is one of three organizations selected for project management roles within the initiative. North Star Solutions, LLC of Sioux Falls will manage the Digital Health Modernization and Technology Grant Program, while Business Concepts & Applications of Pierre will support Medicaid-related initiatives including provider quality, access and behavioral health.
The Department of Health announced it will continue sharing updates as Rural Health Transformation efforts progress, including information on funding opportunities, timelines and key milestones. The initiative is intended to strengthen rural healthcare systems and improve access to care across South Dakota through coordinated investments and partnerships among the selected organizations and healthcare providers.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.kotatv.com/2026/05/22/black-hills-special-services-cooperative-selected-help-manage-sd-chronic-disease-initiative/