23 Rural SD Hospitals Receive Federal Funding
by KDLT News
February 12, 2013 9:19 AM
Twenty-three rural hospitals in South Dakota will receive a total of $278,037 in federal funding for projects to improve patient access, reduce medication errors, reduce hospital readmissions, and improve operations.
The federal Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program funding comes through the South Dakota Department of Health. Over the last 12 years, rural hospitals in South Dakota have received more than $4,078,000 in direct awards through the program.
Hospitals must be Medicare-certified as critical access to be eligible for the funds. Critical access hospitals receive a higher Medicare reimbursement rate and are eligible for federal funding for improvement projects. There are currently 38 critical access hospitals in South Dakota.
Hospitals receiving Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program direct awards are located in Burke, Canton, Chamberlain, Clear Lake, Dell Rapids, DeSmet, Flandreau, Vermillion, Viborg, Webster, Wessington Springs, Winner, Britton, Philip, Wagner, Faulkton, Martin, Platte, Redfield, Bowdle, Hot Springs, Mobridge and Parkston.
