Outcomes-based contracting for resilient health systems: What can Canada learn from cross-sector partnerships with private, nongovernmental, and charitable providers?

Teresa Kramarz, Faculty of Arts & Science; Sara Allin, Dalla Lana School of Public Health; Brian Baigrie, Faculty of Arts & Science; Marlys Christianson, Rotman School of Management

This project seeks to understand how policymakers, practitioners, and academics can improve the planning, delivery and resilience of the health system through outcomes-based contracts.  Outcomes-based contracts are a term used to describe formal partnerships between the government and private, non-profit, or charitable sector organizations to deliver health services to patients, such as public health interventions that improve Type 2 Diabetes management or improve cardiovascular health. We will host a workshop with academic and policy leaders to talk about the benefits and drawbacks of working with private, non-profit or charitable organisations to deliver health services.  This process will identify tools that governments and planners can use to improve collaborations with non-governmental actors to improve the health system. This seed funding will help form a new network of interdisciplinary scholars in Canada and internationally interested in conducting innovative research to inform policy design and implementation for Canada with the aim of strengthening health system resilience.