- WECHU 2020-21 Public Health Funding (T. Marentette/L. Gregg)
T. Marentette said that the WECHU received its Public Health Funding and Accountability Agreement for the 2020-2021 funding year on August 21, 2020 which provided our approved base and one-time funding. This includes the changes to the provincial/municipal cost-sharing agreement effective January 1, 2020, one-time mitigation funding and funding for public health programs and services.
An overview of other one-time funding approvals include:
• Public Health Inspector Practicum Program (one student) – $10,000
• Seasonal Farm Contract Tracing under our TB Program – included on-site contact tracing, TB screening, translations services, salaries and mileage – $4,400
• Vector-Borne Disease Program – this funding initiative is used to support staffing, mileage surveillance activities and an awareness campaign for enhanced surveillance for mosquitos – $40,000
• Pandemic Pay for eligible nursing staff – this initiative provided additional support for eligible Board of Health employees dependent upon responsibilities for the period April 24, 2020 to August 13, 2020. Total funding received for our health unit was $161,700.
In addition, an amended agreement was received by the Ministry related to the following:
• School-focused nurses (19 in total) to support the reopening of schools (August 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021 and April 2021 to March 31, 2022)
• Funding to support the new public health Case and Contact Management solution (CCM)
Board of Health member L. Snively left the meeting at 4:59 pm
L. Gregg advised that on August 21, 2020 the Ministry of Health issued WECHU’s 2020 Budget Approval. Total funding allocation is as follows:
• $15,981,600 in base funding for the Mandatory programs – funded at a rate of 70% Ministry of Health and 30% Obligated Municipalities
• $1,674,700 in base funding for the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program funded 100% by the Ministry of Health
The Ministry of Health approved mitigation funding of $1,260,800 to be used to offset the increased public health program costs to municipalities as a result of cost-sharing change from what was 75/25 to 70/30. An allotment of mitigation funding was approved for the period January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 and a second allotment in the same amount was approved for January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021.
Moved by: Judy Lund
Seconded by: Rino Bortolin
That the information be received.
CARRIED
- Extraordinary Cost Reimbursement Process (L. Gregg)
L. Gregg advised that on August 21, 2020 the Ministry of Health initiated a process for public health units to request reimbursements of one-time extraordinary expenses related to COVID-19. The deadline for this submission is September 18, 2020 for the timeframe of January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 and includes actual and forecasted costs. As with all submissions to the Ministry, it is subject to review and some expenditures may not be admissible. It is our understanding that additional requests for reimbursement may be available at a later date.
Total forecasted salaries and benefits related to COVID-19 for calendar 2020 are $10,728,391. This excludes the School Nurse initiative, which will be funded through separate approval. R. Bortolin noted that many WECHU staff are unionized and eligible for overtime. He asked if this amount takes into account a provision for the WECHU Leadership Team who have been unable to take vacation or time off due to the workload with the pandemic. Their working ratio is likely 15%-30% higher than what they are receiving in salaries.
L. Gregg advised there was a provision for vacations not taken by the WECHU Leadership Team but there was no augment in the number of hours the team has worked, and continues to work, in this analysis. The provision just includes their base salaries. There was a line-by-line analysis for all staff so there was a detailed review.
R. Bortolin asked if WECHU should increase the ask in the submission to the Ministry to help cover compensation to the WECHU Leadership Team for unused vacations.
T. Marentette said that there was no provision for compensation for the Leadership Team during the pandemic and if it is deemed not admissible by the Ministry it would likely fall on the municipalities and is included in this ask. R. Bortolin asked if WECHU can balance its budget for 2020 if the submission was approved. T. Marentette said that close to $3M has been submitted and if that is received from the Ministry than WECHU should be able to balance its budget. To our understanding, the province is not saying this is a 70/30 split.
Moved by: Joe Bachetti
Seconded by: John Scott
That the information be received.
- Request from Ontario Health Team (W. Ahmed)
Dr. W. Ahmed said that many Board of Health members are aware that the province, through Ontario Health, is creating Ontario Health Teams (OHT) to provide patient centered care in various regions of the province. OHTs are groups of health care providers and organizations that are clinically and fiscally accountable for delivering a full and coordinated continuum of care to a defined geographic population.
The expectation is that the OHTs will enable patients, families, community agencies and healthcare providers to work together in a new way. Over time, it is expected that OHTs will develop innovative and locally driven solutions to meet the healthcare needs of their defined geographic population and will be accountable for the health outcomes and healthcare costs of that population.
OHTs are being introduced to provide a new way of organizing and delivering care that is more connected to patients in their local communities. Under OHTs, health care providers (including hospitals, doctors and home and community care providers) work as one coordinated team. Public Health supported the local collaborative work to create a Windsor-Essex Ontario Health Team. The next stage of the OHTs development is a full application, which is currently being submitted.
In the application, the OHT has to identify a priority population and the group decided to work with individuals with chronic diseases living in a congregate settings. There are 155 congregate living setting in our region and the team is planning to prioritize them based on the risk to these settings. For example, using EMS data to identify top 10 congregate living facilities in our region that receive the bulk of calls in the past 12 months.
The OHT is leveraging on the existing relationship and partnership developed for COVID response in the region.
The Windsor Essex OHT is comprised of over 45 local healthcare program and services providers including the three hospitals, primary care and community support providers, public health, municipalities, mental health and addictions agencies, Long-term care, and others social service providers in Windsor Essex.
The Windsor Essex OHT is requesting their partner agencies submit a letter of support along with a sign off from their Board. WECHU is in support of the Windsor Essex OHT but we also recognize that the public governance and accountability are very different. We are governed under the HPPA and are accountable to our Board of Health.
We are recommending that the WECHU submit a letter of support from the Medical Officer of Health and the CEO that we will continue to support and collaborate with the OHT. Due to our mandate and accountability, we do not believe that we require a formal board sign off and are looking to the Board for direction and support.
Moved by: Tracey Bailey
Supported: Rino Bortolin
That the WECHU Medical Officer of Health and CEO submit a Letter of Support to continue to support and collaborate with the OHT and that formal Board of Health sign off is not required.
CARRIED