Funding for Chronic Kidney Disease

Our funding model for chronic kidney disease services follows the Ontario government’s Health System Funding Reform (see sidebar). This model bases funding on:

• the needs of the population
• the number of patients seen
• the types of services delivered
• the quality of services

One component of Health System Funding Reform is Quality-Based Procedures (QBPs). For chronic kidney disease, this includes many services along the continuum of care for patients. The continuum goes from early identification and management of the disease, to life-saving treatments for people with end-stage kidney disease.

Our Quality-Based Procedure Funding Goals

• Support achievement of the goals in the Ontario Renal Plan

• Align funding with quality care
  
  • Appropriately reimburse healthcare providers to deliver high-quality care according to best practice
  • Support standardized care across the province by promoting clinical best practices
  • Minimize inappropriate variation in care
• Improve patient outcomes and equitable access to care
  
  • Increase funding equity among providers to reduce financial barriers to quality care
  • Make sure patients get the right care at the right place and at the right time
• Achieve sustainability
  
  • Manage health system costs

Patient-Based Funding Framework

Chronic kidney disease services in Ontario are funded based on a patient-based funding framework – the Chronic Kidney Disease Quality-Based Procedure. That means funding follows the patient. We provide funds to hospitals based on the types and volumes of patients treated. Services are bundled based on best practices for typical care patients would receive over a year.

We also fund home care and long-term care providers to support people with chronic kidney disease who want to have their dialysis treatment at home. This helps make sure people have access to the same high-quality care, whether they receive that care in a hospital or at home.

In addition to the Quality-Based Procedure funding, we fund equipment, leases and quality initiatives related to chronic kidney disease care.