PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Rhoden awarded 82 grants to accelerate digital health modernization, strengthen cybersecurity, and enhance interoperability across rural and underserved communities. These grants represent $90 million in technology and data modernization funding statewide from the federal Rural Health Transformation initiative.
These awards follow a highly competitive Request for Application (RFA) process in which the state received 144 applications requesting a combined total of $336 million, underscoring strong statewide demand for digital transformation resources. The funded projects reflect strategic alignment with Rural Health Transformation priorities including electronic health record (EHR) modernization, cybersecurity readiness, digital equipment upgrades, interoperability, and technology-based workforce training.
Major grant-supported initiatives include:
- Digital referral and care coordination platforms connecting healthcare providers with aging‑services organizations to improve post‑discharge recovery and reduce avoidable hospitalizations.
- Statewide cybersecurity and digital resilience programs providing vulnerability assessments, technical support, and workforce training for rural and underserved healthcare organizations.
- Remote patient monitoring, virtual reality clinical training, and aging‑in‑place technologies to support older adults with chronic disease and strengthen rural caregiving networks.
- Advanced digital health innovation labs accelerating technology adoption, simulation-based workforce readiness, and testing of emerging clinical solutions for rural providers statewide.
