This is a review of the what the Ontario provincial budget means for FHTs, prepared for the benefit of AFHTO members. The good news for FHTs is government’s commitment to “protect education and health care”. In documenting its record in office, creation of 200 FHTs are once again mentioned as one of the key achievements in “Better Access to Primary Care” (pages 97-98). New investments are announced to invest in a Mental Health and Addiction Strategy – starting with children and youth, enhancing the MedsCheck program, expanding breast screening for high-risk women aged 30-49, increasing funding for long-term care and community-based support to free up hospital beds, and a 1.5% increase to hospital base funding. There was no announcement of additional funding for delivery of primary care services. There is simply the statement “More than $300 million is invested annually to support Ontario’s FHTs” (page 98). The “Managing Responsibly” section of the budget lists measures to reduce waste, eliminate duplication, strengthen oversight and find more savings. While the measures mostly focus on the public service and government agencies, as transfer payment agencies, FHTs could expect to see tightening of controls. (FHTs are already beginning to experience this with the current Funding Agreement templates.) Pages 107 – 110 point to action to manage health care costs. It states, “The government’s focus now is to manage the rate of growth in health spending to a sustainable level, while protecting front-line service delivery of quality care. In the 2010 Budget, the government set a goal of holding annual health sector spending increases to three per cent by 2012–13.The government is on track to meet this target and to maintain this rate of growth into 2013–14 after accounting for time-limited investments. It is doing so by introducing reforms that focus on providing services supported by evidence, improving quality and accountability in the sector, and increasing the value of investments in the health care system.” Government will also establish the Commission on Broader Public Sector Reform, chaired by economist Don Drummond, to examine long-term, fundamental changes to the way government works. The Commission is to report “in time to inform the development of the 2012 Budget. The Commission will not make recommendations that would increase taxes or lead to the privatization of health care or education”. Given that Mr. Drummond was co-author of a highly-publicized report called “Charting A Path To Sustainable Health Care In Ontario”, the recommendations could touch on how publicly-funded health care is organized. Full text of the budget is available at – http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/budget/ontariobudgets/2011/papers_all.pdf
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