Dear EDs and Admin Leads,
As you are aware, we released guidance on potential options for you to direct your MHA funding.
There is updated guidance from the Ministry of Health on (1) procurement guidelines and (2) inclusion of capital costs. The IPHCC has also provided details on a draft list of questions that you will be asked to answer in April via survey – there is no action to take at this point.
1. Procurement Guidelines: If you are planning to partner with MindBeacon, AskForHelp.ca, or other provincial organizations that provide MHA services, you may need to spend over $10,000. Please note that the standard OPS procurement guidance will not apply in this case. The Ministry of Health will issue a formal notice on this exception, which you can share with your auditor (and Board) to assist with planning.
2. Capital Costs: As you may be aware, initial guidance from the Ministry of Health stated that funding could not be used towards capital costs (e.g., leasehold improvements, equipment). However, to assist teams with maximizing the funds received, that guidance has since changed. You may now be eligible to direct funds toward capital costs, subject to approval from your MOH contact. Please reach out to your MOH contact for the required approvals.
Please note that with these updates, you are still required to spend your funds on or before March 31st, 2023, or they will be subject to reconciliation and unspent funds will be recovered by the Ministry.
3. Reporting Requirements: The IPHCC has been asked to lead a report back to the Ministry on how the MHA funds have been spent by all interprofessional team based models. IPHCC is working in collaboration with the Nurse Practitioner-Led Association (NPLCA), the Alliance for Healthier Communities (Alliance) and AFHTO on this report, with the hope that we can use the information to advocate for continued support of MHA in interprofessional primary care.
You can find the list of draft questions here – much of the information was included on AFHTO’s initial guidance to teams, so you will likely have this information already. We ask that you please complete the survey with as much information as possible once it is officially released by the IPHCC, mostly likely in April. As you know, our goal is to make the case to government for sustainable funding. We appreciate you taking time to gather this information that will support future advocacy work.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at any time. Thank you as always for the services, programming, and support that you provide to your patients and community that are experiencing MHA issues and concerns.
Yours in good health,
The AFHTO Team
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