OAC Supports Permanent Government Funding for Natriuretic Peptide Testing Performed in Community Laboratories
Today, the OAC expressed its support for permanent government funding for natriuretic peptide testing performed in community laboratories in the following letter to Ontario’s Minister of Health, the Hon. Sylvia Jones. We look forward to the provincial government acting on this important priority in the 2024 Ontario Budget.
November 27, 2023
Hon. Sylvia Jones, MPP
Minister of Health
College Park, 5th Floor
777 Bay Street
Toronto, ON M7A 2J3
Re: Permanent Funding for Natriuretic Peptide Testing in Community Laboratories
Dear Minister:
On behalf of the Ontario Association of Cardiologists (OAC), I am writing to urge the Ministry of Health to provide permanent funding for natriuretic peptide (NP) testing performed in community laboratories when clinically indicated on patients with suspected heart failure.
In November 2021, the Ministry of Health created the Community Access Pilot for Laboratory Services through which it funded the cost of NP testing when performed by a community laboratory on patients with suspected heart failure. The OAC enthusiastically supported this pilot project at the time and welcomed its subsequent extension for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 fiscal years. As the end of the 2023-24 fiscal year approaches, we strongly recommend the Ministry provide permanent funding for NP testing in Ontario community laboratories starting April 1, 2024.
The clinical evidence supporting the use of NP testing is unequivocal. These screening tests are extremely beneficial in aiding early heart failure diagnoses and ensuring timely treatment. This is good for patients and reduces the overall burden of heart failure on Ontario’s health care system. Over the past two years, Ontario’s heart failure specialists and patients have embraced improved community access to this important diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making tool. Making public funding permanent will provide stability and enable better long-term management of heart failure in both primary and specialty care settings.
As medical specialists with in-depth expertise and experience in managing heart failure patients, Ontario’s cardiologists agree with the need to ensure that NP testing is used only when appropriate. Consequently, we offer to work with stakeholders to develop and communicate guidelines for its use by health care providers in all clinical settings.
The Ontario government demonstrated strong leadership two years ago by including NP testing in the Community Access Pilot for Laboratory Services. We urge the Ministry to take the next step and make NP testing funding permanent in Ontario starting April 1, 2024.
Sincerely,
John D. Parker, MD, FRCPC
Board Member
c.c. Dr. Andrew Park, President, OMA
Dr. Lesley James, Director, Health Policy and Systems (Ontario), Heart and Stroke
For more information, contact:
Tim Holman, Executive Director
Ontario Association of Cardiologists
Tel: 416-487-0054
Toll-free: 1-877-504-1239
Email: [email protected]
