Whereas capital costs for healthcare facilities in North and Central British Columbia are shared between the provincial government and Regional Hospital Districts RHD at a 60 percent40 percent split Provincelocal RHD; And whereas the cost share ratio borne by a local Regional Hospital District is not financially sustainable, long term, due to escalating constructioninflationary costs and scope of healthcare capital projects increasing without adequate and proactive consultation with the local RHD Board: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM lobby the provincial government to modernize the RHD Cost Share formula under the Hospital District Act with the ability to pay being a key consideration of cost-sharing of healthcare capital projects.
Ministry of Health RHDs are key partners in building and maintaining local hospital infrastructure. Health authorities work closely with their RHDs to determine what level of cost sharing may be possible for specific projects within their approved capital plans. The Ministry of Health recognizes that regional contributions towards health capital projects may vary from project to project. Although in 2003 the Hospital District Act and the Hospital Insurance Regulations were amended to eliminate a predetermined cost-share ratio 60-40 to fund capital projects, RHDs are expected to contribute 40 percent of capital project costs within their region. When there is an opportunity to amend the Hospital District Act the legislative framework for the roles and responsibilities of RHDs the review of the cost-sharing model for funding health capital projects in BC could be considered in consultation with all stakeholders, including RHDs and the Union of BC Municipalities.