In 2010, the Government passed the Broader Public Sector Accountability Act which requires hospitals to publicly post any expense claims made by hospital executives and Board Members, effective November 30, 2011.
Our hospital has absolutely embraced this requirement. We believe that it is a reasonable way to promote public confidence in our management of taxpayer money, and it is consistent with the policies that already apply to senior leaders in government and other broader public sector organizations. Taxpayers want to know that their health care dollars are being spent appropriately.
About Hospital Expenses
Hospitals, like many other complex businesses, may have executives who incur business-related expenses from time to time that are permissible and should be reimbursed. Business-related expenses identified by the government for public reporting typically fall under three categories: 1) meals, 2) travel and 3) hospitality.
The Ontario Hospital Association has developed some Expense Policy Guidelines that have helped us develop our hospital’s policies related to expenses.
About Hospital Accountability
Ontario’s hospitals operate in one of the most demanding health care accountability systems in all of Canada. Virtually every aspect of hospitals’ performance is regularly subject to external, independent scrutiny. In fact, hospitals have initiated or played a key role in shaping most of their stringent accountability measures.
Embracing the tenets of both the Excellent Care for All Act and the Broader Public Sector Accountability Act that were introduced in 2010, hospitals continue to enhance quality, transparency and accountability.