SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, May 12, 2004
CONTACT: Kayla Tinker, (605) 773-3737

State names Avera St. Luke’s new provider
for Children’s Special Health Services Program

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Health announced today that Avera St. Luke’s is the new northeast area provider for the state program that delivers services to children with special health care needs.

“Our Children’s Special Health Services offices in Pierre, Rapid City and Sioux Falls are already located in a clinic or hospital setting,” said Kayla Tinker, Administrator of the department’s Office of Family Health. “Aberdeen was the only site where the services were delivered directly by the department. For consistency and standardization of services, it was time to bring Aberdeen in line with the other sites.”

Tinker said Avera St. Luke's was selected through a request for proposal process involving providers from across the northeast area. Effective July 1, Avera staff will begin delivering services from a location at Suite E202 of the Physicians Plaza on 201 S. Lloyd Street in Aberdeen.

The CSHS program delivers health care services for children who have chronic medical conditions or disabling illnesses. Pediatric specialists, primary care physicians, registered nurses, social workers, and dietitians work together to provide diagnostic, consultative, and care coordination services. Financial assistance is available for specified conditions and procedures.

The program is funded through the federal Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant and state matching funds. Its goal is to improve health care services for South Dakota children with special health care needs. Statewide, the CSHS program provides services to more than 9,500 children.

“Avera St. Luke’s already has a long history of working with our CSHS program,” said Tinker. “We’re confident families will continue to receive the same quality services they’ve come to depend upon.”

More information about the Children’s Special Health Services program and its eligibility requirements is available on the department web site at www.state.sd.us/doh/FamHlth/.