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NEWS SD CPD CDHKD CKD CARD. CDQ CKD CARD CAD CARD CARLO CAEKSD. CAMS CARO ONTARIO.HOSPITAL SERVICES COMMISSION |'EW HOSPITAL INSURANCE PREMIUMS HOSPITALS AND HOSPITAL SERVICES ARE BETTER THAN EVER, BUT THEIR COSTS ARE 'RISING STEADILY...AND SO ARE OURS. BETTER CARE--BETTER PROTECTION Modern scientific hospital care is putting thousands of patients on the road to health every day. This care is the best that has ever been avaiJable--but it is becoming more and more costly to provide. Steadily rising hospital costs have, for many years, affected all hospitals across Canada and in other countries. Nevertheless, the quality of hospital care cannot be sacrificed--facilities and service must constantly attain increasingly higher standards. In 1959, however, Ontario Hospital Insurance ended the worry of hos- pital expense for patients who need such care. Over 7 million Ontario residents, 99% of the people, have peace of mind in knowing that their hospital bills are 'prepaid' through their Government-insurance plan. WHY COSTS CONTINUE TO RISE PRICES ARE UP Hospitals, like everyone else, are paying more for salaries, wages and fringe benefits, and more for food, drugs, equipment, supplies and services. SERVICE IS BETTER Medical science now provides many new, costly types of treatment which require admission to hospital. While these procedures prolong life and improve health, they also increase the use of hospitals and require more skilled staff, more facilities, more drugs and other expensive supplies. HOSPITALS ARE USED MORE Greater use is also being made of hospitals because there is no longer a financial barrier to necessary care, more hospital beds are available and there are increasing num- bers of elderly citizens, many of whom require prolonged treatment in hospital. In 1947, Ontario had only 17,473 active treatment, chronic and convalescent hospital beds; in 1958 there were 31,000. Today there are over 46,800 such beds available to insured persons. More beds mean more patients, more cost. PAY ENVELOPES TAKE MOST About 75¢ out of every $1.00 in insured hospital services represents salaries, wages and fringe benefits for hospital employees. Hospital staffs now enjoy employment condi- tions which are comparable in rates and hours of work and fringe benefits to other similar occupations in the community. This means that hospitals, today, have more and better paid employees to provide their essential round- the-clock service for the sick and injured. NEW PREMIUM RATES There has been no change in Ontario Hospital Insurance premiums since 1964, and this has been made possible through increased Provincial Government contributions SN ie a7 re Re Lee as The Government has now found it necessary, however, to introduce new premiums to help meet the sharp increase in the cost of the Ontario Hospital Insurance Plan. The Sie A ES GR ie a ee se Ne ee PO COTO GOTO GTO GET) GIT GHD. GH) GH) GH) GHD GHD GH GHW