Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) said this week that the additional funding for hospitals in the provincial budget is good news for its organization. The 2017-18 provincial budget includes $2.5 million for MAHC. It’s part of a $13.5 million investment in hospitals throughout the North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network (NSM LHIN), said a MAHC release.
“As a medium-sized community hospital that operates across two sites, MAHC has struggled to balance our operating budget within the funding formula, while continuing to provide the acute care services required by Muskoka residents and visitors,” said Natalie Bubela, Chief Executive Officer. “Hospital funding has not kept pace with many new and rising costs, including salary increases mandated through collective agreements, increasing energy costs and new regulations. We have been under enormous pressure to do more with less while ensuring access to care, so this funding boost is extremely good news.”
Despite the funding, MAHC is still projecting an operating shortfall at the end of its fiscal year in March 2018. Earlier this year, MAHC announced that it had received $2.3 million in one-time funding from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to address a funding shortfall for its fiscal year ending March 31, 2017.
“While this funding increase is extremely positive news, our preliminary budget projections are still forecasting an operating shortfall at the end of the fiscal year next March,” Bubela added in the media release. “This announcement of additional funding will positively impact patient care by helping to offset operating shortfalls in our 2017-18 budget.”
The MAHC Board and hospital administration will continue to advocate for more funding, said Evelyn Brown, Chair of the MAHC Board of Directors.
“I would like to acknowledge the continued support of the North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network, and our physicians and community partners who have advocated on behalf of MAHC,” said Brown. “Their advocacy with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care allowed us to achieve a balanced budget in 2016-17, and we are very appreciative of their efforts.”
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