More cash for Muskoka hospital

The Ontario government has given another $4.5 million to Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC). The cash is being rolled into the hospital's operational base funding this year to help the hospital deal with its deficit. The hospital had already closed one of its sites, raising the ire of the local community.

As reported earlier, the hospital had a $6 million deficit and the local community was fighting for the hospital.

The North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN says that it submitted in April 2010 a report to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care that MAHC’s deficit could not be achieved through further changes to the organization. Additional funding would be required.

For its part, the hospital appears quite confident that it will get another $1.5 million next year.

The LHIN claims that of 155 hospital corporations in Ontario, Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare was the only organization unable to sign their Hospital Service Accountability Agreement due to their inability to commit to a balanced budget by March 2012.

Hospitals, unable to balance their budgets, must prepare a Deficit Recovery Plan that clearly defines how a hospital will achieve a balanced budget within the specified time frame.

dallan@cupe.ca

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