Ultimate Blogging Championship

Tag: Legislative and Contractual Issues

  • Update on Ongoing Health System Restructuring

    This email was sent to the leadership triad

    ***Update on Ongoing Health System Restructuring***
     
    Dear members,

    There has been lots happening locally and provincially with system restructuring, including the first steps in the formation of Ontario Health Teams – with the first ones expected to be announced by the end of this month.

    We’d like to provide an update on several significant milestones that have happened in recent weeks.

    Bill 124
    Bill 124, Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act, 2019, received royal assent on November 7. Its purpose is “to ensure that increases in public sector compensation reflect the fiscal situation of the province.” This Act puts a restriction on salary increases of no more than 1% for each 12-month period, with some exceptions.
     
    AFHTO continues to work with the ministry to understand if this may impact future recruitment and retention funding. However, the funding for 18/19, 19/20 and 20/21 was approved in a multi 3-year agreement which is within base funding. At the moment, there are no plans to counter that and signals point to commitment to the R&R funding until the end of the three years. If you have any questions, call your ministry program consultant, and we will keep you updated as we learn more about the new bill and its implementation.
     
    Bill 138
    On November 6, Finance Minister Rod Phillips introduced his first Fall Economic Statement: Plan to Build Ontario Together Act, 2019 (Bill 138).

    Of particular note for health care, Bill 138 includes Schedule 15, which includes changes to the Health Insurance Act, and Schedule 30, which speaks to the modernization of the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) to enable more connected care.
     
    Bill 138 also includes the introduction of the Supply Chain Management Act (Government, Broader Public Sector and Health Sector Entities), which is intended to help build an integrated, patient-focused supply chain to support a more connected health system.
     
    A fact sheet and joint deputy minister memo on the Supply Chain Management Act, as well as a memo from H&K Strategies on the Fall Economic Statement, can be seen on our website.
     
    Transfer Notices Issued
    On November 13, transfer notices were issued to the agencies that are integrating to Ontario Health by December 2: Cancer Care Ontario, Health Quality Ontario, eHealth Ontario, Health Shared Services Ontario, and HealthForceOntario Marketing and Recruitment Agency. The 14 LHINs will follow shortly, but for now have been reorganized into five interim and transitional regions with the five interim leads being:

    • Bruce Lauckner who will become the Transitional Regional Lead in western Ontario (and managing Erie St. Clair, Hamilton Haldimand Norfolk Brant, South West and Waterloo Wellington).
    • Renato Discenza who will become the Transitional Regional Lead in eastern Ontario (and managing Champlain, South East and Central East LHINs).
    • Scott McLeod who will become the Transitional Regional Lead in central Ontario (and managing Central, Central West, Mississauga Halton and North Simcoe Muskoka).
    • Tess Romain who will become the Transitional Regional Lead in Toronto (and managing Toronto Central).
    • Rhonda Crocker Ellacott who will become the Transitional Regional Lead in northern Ontario (and managing North East and North West).

    To see the full memo from Interim CEO, Susan Fitpatrick, on the transfer notices, please click here. Ontario Health now also has a website, so visit www.ontariohealth.ca to learn more.
     
    Digital First for Health Strategy
    Yesterday the ministry announced its Digital First for Health Strategy, which includes $3 million in new funding to compensate physicians for 55,000 more video visits provided directly to patients in their location of choice over the next year.
     
    Once this strategy is fully implemented, patients will be able to expect more virtual care options, expanded access to online appointment booking, greater data access for patients, connected tools for frontline providers, and data integration and predictive analytics. As more details emerge, we will be updating our members.
     
    Update on OHTs
    We look forward to the announcement of the first OHTs later this month, and to learning the teams that will be part of the next round of submissions, which are due on December 4.

    Please continue to keep AFHTO up-to-date on your progress, let us know how we can help you, and continue to check out the updates and support tools on our website.
     
    Please also continue to keep your colleagues up-to-date on the ongoing changes, and, if they have not already, encourage they sign up for our weekly e-newsletter by emailing info@afhto.ca and sign up to receive the Connected Care Updates from the ministry.
     
    Yours sincerely,

    Kavita Mehta
    CEO, Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario

     

  • Library of Organizational Policies and Procedures

    These sample organizational policies and procedures have been provided by AFHTO members who have agreed to share them with their peers. They provide teams with a comprehensive collection of tools, resources and templates that will help the board and executive director manage the organization effectively. Please consider sharing your resources to support the development of this library.

    Board Governance

    Financial / Risk Management

    Operational Procedures

    Human Resources

  • Statutory Compliance Toolkit for FHT and NPLC boards

    Shared by AFHTO & DDO Health Law

    Created in 2014

    AFHTO’s Statutory Compliance Toolkit ensures that boards and executive directors are informed about their legal obligations and have access to the basic tools and resources to ensure compliance and/or risk mitigation.

    This resource is customized for FHT and NPLCs and highlights laws that boards need to know and the impact that those laws have on the organization and the board members. The toolkit was developed by legal experts from DDO Health Law and overseen by AFHTO staff.

    If you have any questions, please contact info@afhto.ca

    This resource includes:

    1. Commitment to Statutory Compliance
    2. Laws generally applicable to FHTs and NPLCs
    3. The 5 key duties that impact you as a board member
    4. The clinical fundamentals
    5. Other important laws
    6. Key laws that apply to particular kinds of FHTs and NPLCs
      1. Charitable corporations
      2. Teams receiving more than 10 million in public funding
      3. Provincially Incorporated teams
      4. Teams involved in revenue-generating activities
      5. Teams constructing or renovating a building
    7. Tips for Executive Directors (EDs), Administrators and Board Members
    8. Appendix
      1. Statutory Remittance Certificate
      2. Statutory Compliance Audit Checklist

  • Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA)

    Resources to assist FHTs in meeting requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA)

    The purpose of the AODA legislation is to create an accessible Ontario for persons with disabilities by 2025 through provincial accessibility standards which improve access by identifying, removing, improving and preventing barriers. Under this act, the following Standards have been or will be enacted:

    • Customer Service (in effect as of Jan.1, 2012)
    • Employment + Information and Communication + Transportation (each are waiting for enactment)
    • Built Environment (has not had 3rd reading).

      All businesses, including non-profits with 1 or more employees must be compliant with the ‘Customer Service Standard’ by January 1, 2012. The focus is on flexible service that meets individual needs which put the person first, not the disability.  Core principles are independence, dignity, integration and equality.

    Fines for non-compliance:

    Fines may be up to $155,000. Liability for conviction per Director or Senior Manager is $50,000/day and for an organization is $100,000/day.  

    Requirements of Customer Service Standard:

    1. Establish policies, practices and procedures to provide accessible service to people with disabilities.
    2. Allow for assistive devices, support persons and service animals appropriately.
    3. Provide alternative and accommodating communication formats, on request.
    4. Post notices when access to facilities or services are interrupted.
    5. Train all employees and others who represent the organization and maintain training records.
    6. Establish and make available a public document for this accessibility standard.
    7. Report organizational compliance and progress related to this standard to the provincial government.

    Resources to help FHTs meet mandatory requirements:

    AccessON website offers compliance information and standards for all accessibility challenges within Ontario. Primary Care Accessibility Checklist is a self-assessment tool for the primary care setting meant to increase awareness of the needs of patients with disabilities, and to enhance accessibility in the practice. The Guelph Family Health Team (GFHT) is sharing their templates with AFHTO Members. Documents may be edited to match individual FHT branding and accessibility requirements.

    Other templates and resources shared by member teams can be found here.