No cuts to provincially covered blood tests in recent years
Ontario's Ministry of Health has finally addressed a string of viral social media posts claiming the Ford government quietly removed OHIP coverage for certain blood tests and lab work.
The Ministry of Health confirming there have been no cuts to provincially covered blood tests in recent years.
In a statement issued this week, the ministry said that since 2017, there have been no laboratory tests delisted from OHIP's schedule of benefits for lab services.
"The Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act (CFMA) prohibits charges by any person or entity for insured services or for access to insured services," the statement reads.
It goes on to say that if a patient feels that they have been charged for a service that is insured, they can call the CFMA Program report line at 1-888-662-6613 or e-mail protectpublichealthcare@ontario.ca.
The bulk of routine lab tests that are ordered by doctors in the province are covered under OHIP, but there are certain tests that don't fall under that umbrella that patients have to pay for out of pocket.
Officials at the Ontario Health Coalition telling the CBC they were "absolutely inundated" with calls and messages about the issue, but found no evidence of tests being delisted from OHIP.
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