No changes to OHIP-covered blood tests, Ontario Ministry of Health says

Ontario’s Ministry of Health asserts there have been no changes to blood tests covered under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) despite several now-viral tweets claiming that they are now being charged money for bloodwork or screening tests.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health tells CityNews that no such modifications have been made for OHIP.

“There have not been any changes to tests covered under OHIP — Schedule of Benefits-Laboratory Services (SOB-LS) that may have led to a patient being charged,” they said in a statement.

“The Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act (CFMA) prohibits charges by any person or entity for insured services or access to insured services.”

Ontario…if you haven't had to have bloodwork done lately, or screening tests, you're in for quite a shock. 86$ dropped at LifeLabs today thanks to @fordnation taking cancer screening blood work off the list of OHIP covered test. Just the beginning of privatization by stealth.

— Carol Easton (@Volksmarcher) May 28, 2022

But the misinformation became fodder on the campaign trail. In a now-deleted tweet, Tyler Watt, a Liberal candidate for Napean, said the Ford government “quietly” annulled several of these tests.

“Doug Ford’s Conservatives have appeared to quietly cancel a number of OHIP covered tests including cancer screenings which now cost $86,” the tweet read.

LifeLabs “cannot bill individuals with OHIP coverage”

A majority of routine laboratory tests ordered by a family doctor are covered under OHIP, but there are specific tests that are not insured and must be paid for by the patient.

LifeLabs — self-described as Canada’s leader in laboratory diagnostic information and health connectivity solutions — says the provincial government dictates which tests are covered by OHIP.

“Our services are governed by partnerships with the provincial government which dictate scope, service-level, funding and standards of care,” LifeLabs said in a statement.

“There have not been any laboratory tests de-listed (i.e. removed with no replacement test) in the last five years under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan Schedule of Benefits for Laboratory Services. For more information on the Schedule of Benefits, please see here or contact the Ministry of Health directly.”

The laboratory testing company says it cannot bill individuals with OHIP protection for tests covered by the program.

Many on social media have mentioned The Canada Health Act (CHA) — Canada’s federal legislation for publicly funded health care insurance — designed “to protect, promote and restore the physical and mental well-being of residents of Canada and to facilitate reasonable access to health services without financial or other barriers.”

The Ministry of Health says if a patient feels that they have been charged for an insured service, they can call the CFMA Program report line at 1-888-662-6613 or e-mail protectpublichealthcare@ontario.ca.