Mission Statement
Background
Description
Structure
Secretariat Responsibilities
Mission Statement
The mission of the Federal Healthcare Partnership (FHP) is to identify, promote and implement more efficient and effective health care programs through the collaborative effort of all member departments. The FHP strives to achieve economies of scale while enhancing the quality of healthcare services that could not be achieved through the individual departments acting on their own.
The FHP represents all member departments in matters of a pan-Canadian nature as the Federal jurisdiction. This representation ensures that FHP member departments, with a common interest, are recognized as an active participant in pan-Canadian healthcare services issues.
Background
At the request of the TBS, VAC was asked to lead a study to examine the potential to achieve cost savings through the joint purchasing power of the federal departments and agencies involved in healthcare. The study was undertaken in a climate of fiscal restraint to achieve previously announced reductions in spending and to identify new opportunities for additional savings. The study concluded that substantial savings could be realized for prescription drugs, dental care and vision care by adopting a strategy based on a coordination of effort. From this the Health Care Coordination Initiative (HCCI), now the Federal Healthcare Partnership (FHP) was created in 1994. The change in name was introduced in November 2003.
Its mandate was to advance opportunities to develop and implement strategies for the coordination of federal government and agency purchasing of healthcare services and products for their eligible clients at the lowest possible cost. The FHP Secretariat was set up to coordinate the interdepartmental activities associated with achieving its mandate. Funding for the FHP is derived through a special budget from VAC.
The FHP has since evolved, and partner departments have been building on the experiences gained thus far. The partners are now collaboratively examining the strategic impact of various issues on the provision of health services within the jurisdiction of each partner. Further, the FHP is currently carrying out many of the activities outlined in its Business Plan covering the period 2004-2007 to achieve economies of scale, as well as expanding its scope to meet today's healthcare pressures, and taking on the role of strategic issues leadership.
Description
The federal government purchases a wide range of healthcare supplies and services to deliver its many health programs. These purchases amount to over $2.5 billion dollars per year and cover thousands of items ranging from over-the-counter medication and expensive diagnostic equipment to the services of health professionals. A partnership was formed among departments and agencies with common interests to minimize inefficiency and duplication of effort that are inevitable when stakeholders with shared interests operate independently or at cross purposes.
By virtue of the Constitution Act or other federal laws, regulations and policies, the following specific populations are provided health services by the federal government:
- First Nations and Inuit individuals;
- eligible Veterans (for services that are not already insured in the provinces);
- members of the Canadian Forces;
- Regular Members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and eligible retired members;
- federal inmates; and
- refugee protection claimants, sponsored convention refugees, and individuals detained by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
The health programs are managed by six permanent members of the FHP. These departments have a common goal of managing cost-effective health programs for their constituencies while respecting their unique departmental mandates. It is the pursuit of this common goal that generated the need for the Federal Healthcare Partnership.
The permanent members of the FHP are the Department of National Defence (DND), Health Canada (HC), Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Correctional Service Canada (CSC), and Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). The departments and organizations that participate in areas of interest to them are the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS), Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), and Canada Health Infoway (CHI). TBS provides an advisory role to the FHP Secretariat and departments, while PWGSC is the contracting authority for the participating departments.
The two main goals of the FHP are to achieve economies of scale while enhancing the provision of care, and provide strategic issues leadership.
Departments and agencies, other than those named above, may join the FHP. As it commits to the FHP, each such department and agency will decide in which activities, projects or programs it will participate and how it will contribute to the objectives and key results of the FHP.
Structure
Prior to March 2005, the date when a new FHP governance structure was implemented, the FHP operated through the work of two major committees - the Executive Committee and the Working Committee who reviewed the progress of the Partnership and provided direction on specific proposals for coordination. The FHP Secretariat provided support for the overall initiative, coordinated all activities and provided project management expertise. However, since the change in structure, FHP activities are now supported by four main bodies: the Executive Committee, the Management Committee, the FHP Secretariat, and various permanent or ad hoc Working Groups.
The Executive Committee comprises the six permanent members at the ADM level. It approves the FHP Charter, appoints the FHP Executive Director, approves the FHP Business Plan or changes to the approved Business Plan on recommendation of the Management Committee or Executive Director of the Secretariat and approves the formation of all permanent Working Groups. The Chair of the Executive Committee is the Associate Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC).
The Management Committee is comprised of senior representatives of the six permanent members, generally at the Director General level. It is chaired by, and provides guidance and advice to the FHP Executive Director concerning the interests of member departments. The Management Committee members represent their departmental functional authority at all meetings and advise their functional authority on all issues arising from the business of the FHP.
The FHP Secretariat manages the operational activities of the FHP, and reports directly to the Associate Deputy Minister, VAC. Located in offices within Veterans Affairs in Ottawa, it supports the overall initiative, coordinates all activities and provides project management expertise. The Secretariat, in association with the Executive Committee, identifies opportunities for collaboration and prepares the FHP Business Plan. On direction of the Executive Committee or Management Committee, the Secretariat solicits nominations for delegates to Working Groups or the Secretariat may undertake specific projects in order to achieve business objectives. The Secretariat facilitates and supports the work of the Management Committee, and leads and directs the activities of the Working Groups and manages their activities in order to ensure that business objectives are attained.
Permanent Working Groups are established on the direction of the Executive Committee to undertake necessary work to achieve the objectives of the FHP. Ad hoc Working Groups may be established on the approval of the Management Committee or Executive Director in order to perform activities. The Chair of a Working Group is appointed by the Executive Director of the FHP. The activities and progress of each Working Group shall be provided to the Executive and Management Committees through the Executive Director.
Secretariat Responsibilities
The FHP Secretariat is responsible for the overall coordination of the Partnership, supporting the Executive Committee, the Management Committee and various permanent or ad hoc Working Groups, and offering or organizing necessary training opportunities. The Secretariat provides negotiating leadership, and receives (from partner departments) healthcare costs and payment data for analysis in support of negotiation processes, and for the assessment of the impact of the Partnership activities. All uses of departmental data are subject to the approval of individual departments. The FHP Secretariat is also responsible for monitoring the performance of the joint activities and ensuring the accountability structure is followed. In order to reduce the reporting burden on the partner departments, the Secretariat compiles and consolidates information on behalf of the partner departments for inclusion in special and periodic reports, the FHP Annual Reports, and Three-Year Business Plans that are submitted to the Treasury Board Secretariat of Canada.
In summary, the Secretariat:
- promotes and supports synergies and information-sharing among member departments in order to identify common opportunities for collaboration, and to harmonize work/effort;
- ensures a coordinated and collaborative approach among partner departments and other relevant stakeholders on strategic health-related matters that need to be situated in a larger federal jurisdiction context;
- coordinates the gathering, maintenance and analysis of information in support of initiatives, strategic planning, business planning and preparation of periodic reports;
- coordinates/schedules and facilitates Executive Committee meetings, Working Committee(s) meetings and FHP activities including agendas and records of discussion and decisions;
- facilitates and participates in the FHP strategic planning process;
- cultivates relationships with partner organizations and other stakeholders.