Mountain View County's policies and priorities committee has passed a motion recommending council consider the adoption of a new health funding policy and related procedures in support of health-related initiatives in the district.
The motion came during the committee's July 2 regularly scheduled meeting.
On March 26 council approved an annual budget of $62,500 based on $5 per capita for initiatives that support the residents of Mountain View County.
The proposed policy is designed to provide a “fair and equitable method to distribute health care funding in the county.”
The policy includes four stated principles:
• This funding is directed to support health programs and services for enhanced and sustainable health care.
• Any allocated funding for health care initiatives must have direct benefit to the residents of Mountain View County.
• Projects and programs shall support the full continuum of care though promotion, prevention, treatment, continuing care, and rehabilitation.
• Health care support funding will not be available for projects and programs that are eligible for existing funding from Alberta Health Services.
The policy includes accompanying procedures outlining conditions for application, eligibility, and other guidelines.
Groups eligible to apply for funding are health foundations, health trusts, professional attraction and retention committees, and health care related organizations that operate within the county or support the operations of local facilities.
Applications for funding must include a description of the project, a statement describing community benefits, an outline of the project goals and objectives, the proposed budget, including revenues and expenditures and all other sources of funding, and a timeline for completion of the project.
Approved funding may be used for health professional attraction and retention, health foundation initiatives, and other health care initiatives approved by council.
All initiatives must be started within one year of funding approval and completed within two years of approval, unless otherwise approved by council.
Funding requests up to and including $2,000 may be approved by the CAO, while request over $2,000 must be approved by council.
The policy and procedure will now come before council on July 9 for consideration.
