Q2. What are the OHIP guidelines for ordering Bone Mineral Densitometry tests? The following guidelines are current as of July 1, 2010. A more updated list of criteria may be found at the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care website at http://www.health.gov.on.ca. Please feel free to contact our offices if you have any questions. OHIP covers one baseline BMD study per patient per lifetime. A subsequent second test for a low risk patient with a normal baseline BMD examination is 36 months. If at that point the BMD examination is normal, the patient then qualifies for a third follow up examination in 60 months. Subsequent tests for high risk patients are limited to one test every 12 months unless the ordering physician obtains written prior authorization from a medical consultant. Authorization will be dependent on the ordering physician demonstrating that the test is generally accepted as necessary for the patient under the circumstances. Definitions: For the purpose of subsequent testing, high risk patient means a patient: - at risk for accelerated bone loss (in the absence of other risk factors, patient age is deemed not to place a patient at high risk for accelerated bone loss); - with osteopenia or osteoporosis on any previous BMD testing; or with bone loss in excess of 1% per year as demonstrated by previous BMD testing. - low risk patient means a patient who is not a high risk patient. If the patient is considered "high risk", the ordering physician must indicate the reason for this on the requisition. The 2002 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Osteoporosis in Canada can be found here.