TORONTO - Ontario's auditor general says the Liberal government "needs to take a hard look" at the $2.4 billion spent annually by community care access centres and their private contractors.
The 14 CCAC's co-ordinate home and community-based nursing care, therapy and supports to about 700,000 patients outside of hospitals, and in some cases provide direct care.
Auditor Bonnie Lysyk disputes claims that 92 per cent of their spending goes to direct patient care, and says it's closer to 61 per cent when you define it as actual face-to-face treatment.
She says the costs-per-client-served by CCAC's range between $2,892 and $3,775, and nurses they directly employ are paid up to $15 an hour more than nurses at the service agencies that they use.
Lysyk also says eligibility criteria for complex care patients discharged from hospitals vary between community care access centres, and nearly half the people don't get treatment within 24 hours as required.
The community care centres have 264 contracts with 160 third-party providers, including private companies and non-profit organizations, but the auditor says they pay inconsistent rates for contracted services.
