BUDGET 2014-2015 - Press release no. 6 of 7 - Patient-Based Funding in the Health Sector: Report of the Expert Panel Favourably Received by the Government

QUÉBEC, Feb. 20, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - In conjunction with the tabling of the Québec government's 2014-2015 budget, the Expert Panel for Patient-Based Funding submitted its report entitled Pour que l'argent suive le patient along with the accompanying three technical papers to the Minister of Finance and the Economy and the Minister of Health and Social Services. Composed of Wendy Thomson, Chair, Roger Paquet and Pierre Shedleur, the expert panel made 15 recommendations for implementing patient-based funding in the health sector. The panel proposed a comprehensive strategy that defines three areas considered to be priorities. It also put forward initiatives for creating the necessary conditions and managing change, particularly as regards clinical and financial information.

On behalf of the government, Minister of Finance and the Economy Nicolas Marceau welcomed all the recommendations made in the report. "The government is immediately setting aside $15 million in 2014-2015 to improve clinical and financial information concerning, in particular, the care provided and the results obtained," the Minister announced.

A comprehensive strategy and three areas considered to be priorities
The expert panel has proposed to the government a comprehensive strategy to support patient-based funding so that the challenges currently facing Québec's health system, i.e. access to care, the quality of care, fair sharing of health funding and pressure on spending. The expert panel defined a pragmatic approach, implemented over a period of three to five years starting in 2014-2015.

The expert panel recommends taking action in three areas considered to be priorities, namely:

• access to surgery, through a broader, integrated program;
• emphasis of care quality, through funding based on recognized best practices in the health sector;
• taking charge of patients with chronic illnesses, through funding that facilitates service integration.

The government's response
In the 2014-2015 Budget Speech, the Minister of Finance and the Economy announced that the government intends to move swiftly in implementing the expert panel's recommendations. He went on to say that "the government will explain soon how it intends to implement the recommendations."

A direct link between patients, the care provided and the funding of that care
The Expert Panel for Patient-Based Funding was set up in March 2012 to propose concrete action to the government for implementing patient-based funding in the health and social services sector. This mandate was confirmed and clarified in fall 2012 by the newly elected government.

Patient-based funding is a resource-allocation method based on a direct link between patients, the care provided and the funding of that care. Resources are allocated according to the type and volume of care provided, which is what differentiates patient-based funding from the traditional system where resources are allocated based on history and overall envelopes. As its name indicates, patient-based funding is grounded in the philosophy that patients' choices influence the delivery of care and the allocation of resources. The majority of developed countries have introduced patient-based health funding.

"I would like to thank Wendy Thompson, Pierre Shedleur and Roger Paquet for their excellent work," the Minister said in closing.

The report by the Expert Panel for Patient-Based Funding, entitled Pour que l'argent suive le patient, is available on the expert panel's website at the following address: www.santefinancementactivite.gouv.qc.ca.

SOURCE: Cabinet du ministre des Finances et de l'Économie

Mélanie Malenfant
Assistant Chief of Staff and Press Relations Officer
Office of the Minister of Finance and the Economy
418 643-5270 or 514 873-5363