OHA Encouraged by Multi-Year Hospital Funding Announcement
Ontario Hospital Association
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Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Government Announces Operating Funding to Reach $12.27 Billion in 2005/06
TORONTO - Today’s announcement by the Ontario government that operating funding will reach $12.27 billion this fiscal year, and that hospitals are receiving two additional years in operating funding information for planning purposes, is encouraging news the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) said today.
"With the government's mandatory April 1, 2006 balanced budget deadline, this is a year unlike any other," said Hilary Short, OHA President and CEO. "Information released today about operating funding for hospitals for this year is an investment in helping protect patient care in the lead up to the government's balanced budget deadline."
Today's announcement by the Ontario government also provides operating funding planning information for each Ontario hospital for the 2006/07 and 2007/08 fiscal years. This important announcement marks the first time an Ontario government has provided hospitals with multi-year planning and resource management information.
"Recent negotiations with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care over a proposed new accountability agreement show that the government is listening to the patient care concerns of Ontario hospitals," added Short. "With this draft agreement and today's funding announcement, Ontario's hospitals will continue to work closely with the Ontario government in doing everything possible to protect health services in the lead up to the April 1st balanced budget deadline."
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and Ontario Hospital Association are currently working together on finalizing and approving a new and more collaboratively designed accountability agreement for the 2005/06 and 2006/07 fiscal years.
In the time ahead, the OHA will be working with hospitals and Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to assess the impact of today's announcement as well other important issues such as addressing hospital shortfalls in working capital. Some hospitals are in a position to balance at the end of the current fiscal year while others face more significant financial challenges because of annual cost pressures that exceed their operating funding.
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For further information:
Chris McPherson
OHA Public Affairs
(416) 205-1305