The Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) are getting stuck again. According to the newly released Budget Estimates, the government is cutting their funding. The cut is, at least, small ($3.25 million out of a total LHIN funding of $23 billion). LHINs are the primary funders of hospitals, long term care homes, and home care. Last year, at least they got a little bit of an increase -- 0.9% (based on the scope of services the LHINs are currently supposed to cover). That gives the LHINs a whopping $64 million extra to play with compared with two years ago. That might sound like something until you consider they provide $23 billion in services. In effect, the government is making the LHINs the bad news bearers. With no new money, they are going to have to squeeze the providers. Health care consultants who dreamed that LHINs would become powerful agents for change will be disappointed. At most, the LHINs will have to suffice with encouraging change through a la
Notes from Leftwords -- Doug Allan