CHAD Connection

On July 4, President Trump signed H.R. 1, also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” This new law presents both significant challenges and opportunities for health centers in the Dakotas. While the bill includes provisions that are expected to lead to long-term reductions in health coverage through changes to Medicaid and the Marketplace, it also establishes new resources for a Rural Health Transformation Program that could positively impact health centers and the future of rural health.

According to the Congressional Budget Office estimates, the coverage losses over the next 10 years are as follows:

South Dakota Urban Indian Health Board appoints Colette Keith, a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, as their new executive director.

Horizon Health CEO Wade Erickson was featured in a recent article from South Dakota News Watch outlining how recent federal legislation may reduce Medicaid coverage for thousands in South Dakota—posing challenges for health centers while also offering new rural health funding opportunities.

Join us on Thursday, July 31, at 1:00 pm CT for a special first-look screening event as CHAD proudly unveils our brand-new campaign video that spotlights the incredible impact of health centers across North Dakota and South Dakota.

Produced in collaboration with the talented team at Kickturn Studio in Sioux Falls, this video was created to elevate public awareness, celebrate the essential role of health centers, and inspire our communities with powerful statements.

This premiere also serves as the exciting kickoff to National Health Center Week, and we’d love for every health center to join us for the celebration! Consider hosting a watch party with your staff or board members to share in the moment together.

The South Dakota Perinatal Quality Collaborative (SDPQC), established under South Dakota State University’s Community Practice Innovation Center, is dedicated to enhancing perinatal health outcomes across the state. A key initiative under this collaborative is BIRTH-SD-AIM (Bridging Information and Resources to Transform Health), which commenced with the support of a four-year, $800,000 grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

BIRTH-SD-AIM focuses on implementing two evidence-based safety bundles from the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM): care for pregnant and postpartum individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) and addressing perinatal mental health conditions (PMHC). These bundles are designed to provide structured, best-practice approaches to improve maternal care and outcomes. The initiative follows the Model for Improvement framework. This structured approach ensures that changes are data-driven and tailored to each facility's specific needs.

Facilities participating in BIRTH SD AIM benefit from individualized coaching, monthly educational topic calls, data support, and opportunities for regional and national collaboration. These resources aim to support facilities in achieving CMS recognition and enhancing the quality of perinatal care provided.

To join the initiative, facilities are encouraged to assemble local interdisciplinary teams, including nursing staff, physicians, administrators, and community partners. Interested parties should reach out to Stephanie Hanson (stephanie.hanson@sdstate.edu) or Keri Pappas (keri.pappas@sdstate.edu) to initiate baseline data collection and complete the necessary surveys by August 2025.

Jennifer Saueressig, clinical quality manager at CHAD, attended the North Dakota Cancer Coalition (NDCC) Annual Meeting on June 24 and the ND Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NDCCRT) on June 25 at the Heritage Center and State Museum in Bismarck, ND. The two-day event brought together health care professionals, public health leaders, and advocates to share strategies, data, and success stories focused on reducing the burden of cancer across the state. To read more about the event and the North Dakota Cancer Plan, click on the link below.

To further support this work, the American Cancer Society National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (ACS NCCRT) will release a new guidebook on rural colorectal cancer (CRC) screening best practices next month. This resource will help communities tackle the unique barriers rural residents face and share five recommended steps to increase screening rates. A free webinar on July 28 at 2 pm CT/1 pm MT will share an overview of the guidebook, new data on rural CRC burden, and case studies highlighting real-world best practices. Register for the webinar here.

Registration is now open for the Empower South Dakota Conference, taking place August 8–9 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. This event is designed for people living with diabetes, their caregivers, and anyone interested in preventing or delaying diabetes. Sessions will cover practical topics like mental health, insurance navigation, diabetes at school, healthy eating, exercise, and more. The $50 fee includes dinner on Friday and lunch and a snack on Saturday.

Optimizing Patient Care: Exploring Empanelment Tools in DRVS

When it comes to creating patient-provider assignments, there are many factors to consider - supply and demand, full time providers vs. part time providers, residency programs, patient choice, risk distribution and provider burden - the list goes on. However, traditional EHR systems have limited ability when it comes to accessing the information needed to consider and integrate these moving targets. During this DRVS session, participants will learn about the measures available within DRVS that can help your practice make more informed decisions around patient-provider assignments and put your data into action to advance population.

Tuesday, July 22

12 pm CT/11am MT

Part 1: Improving Access to Care: Creating a Climate for Change

Nonclinical factors account for up to 80% of an individual’s health outcomes and are a driving force behind the gaps in quality care and differing health outcomes we observe today. This 3-part webinar series is designed for practices ready to advance quality in their organization by responding to and assessing patient assets, risks, and experiences. Through the framework of a change management model, attendees will identify differing care measures within their patient populations, develop a data strategy to gain insights into current initiatives, evaluate the impact of interventions, and adopt strategies to sustain improved health outcomes for all.

Tuesday, July 29

12 pm CT/11 am MT

Part 2: Improving Access to Care: Engaging & Enabling Your Organization

The transition from ideas to action is often a barrier in successfully implementing change goals. In the second part of Azara’s 3-part series designed to equip practices in advancing patient quality and access, Azara experts take a dive into strategies to implement and adopt change across the organization. This webinar will highlight the tools in DRVS that enable staff to take action and track quick wins to share across the organization. Attendees will gain insights into how to leverage DRVS tools to streamline workflows and empower teams to support high-quality patient care.

Thursday, July 31

1 pm CT/12pm MT