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Ontario Changing OHIP Coverage For Vitamin D Testing

Ontario is following the advice of experts and will be funding vitamin D testing for patients where medical evidence indicates that there is a need.

Beginning December 1, the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) will cover the costs of a vitamin D test for people with the following conditions:

• Osteoporosis and Osteopenia
• Rickets
• Malabsorption Symdromes
• Renal Disease
• Patients on medications that affect vitamin D metabolism.

In June, Ontario's Health Technology Advisory Committee concluded that the routine use of vitamin D testing for the general population could not be justified based on current evidence, and that people should follow Health Canada's recommendations on diet and vitamin D supplementation.

Since 2004, vitamin D testing has grown by 2,500 per cent - jumping from 29,000 tests to more than 700,000 in 2009.

The change in vitamin D testing will result in resources being redirected to other laboratory services.

QUICK FACTS

• This year, it is expected that the Ontario government will be billed up to $66 million on vitamin D tests - compared to $1.7 million 2004
• Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan have all moved to limit unnecessary vitamin D testing.

LEARN MORE

Review the OHTAC recommendation on Vitamin D testing.

Learn more about OHTAC.

Read Health Canada's recommendations on Vitamin D.

Members of the media :

Ivan Langrish, 416-326-3986
Minister's Office

ontario.ca/health-news