Ontario should pay for in vitro treatments: panel

Ontario should cover the costs of three in vitro fertilization treatments for women under age 42 and revamp the province's adoption system, an expert panel said Wednesday.

After a year of study, the panel said in a report released today that paying for in vitro treatments could save Ontario money.

The panel said that due to in vitro's high cost, which can run around $10,000 per attempt, private clinics tend to overcompensate in order to get a successful pregnancy on the first try. That, in turn, leads to a high incidence of multiple births.

The panel forecast that cutting down on multiple births could save the province between $400 million and $500 million annually.

"We save the cost to the system of the high number of multiple births that lead to premature delivery, caesarean section and intensive neonatal care for the baby immediately after birth," said David Johnston, the chairman of the panel.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said he will consider the report's recommendations.

"Obviously costs remain an issue on every front," the premier said. "It's going to be difficult for us to embark upon any new initiatives."

Anna Carpino-Mongeon and Donald Mongeon are very happy parents of four children, including twins. But their family expanded with a lot of difficulty and a lot of expense.

The couple had to pay out of pocket for in vitro fertilization for their first three children as the procedure is not covered under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan.

"We know [infertility is] a medical problem like any other medical problem," said Carpino-Mongeon. "We really never understood from the beginning the government wouldn't help support treatment of it."

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation argued there is not enough money available to fund a new health initiative, especially if it comes at the expense of others.

In addition to changes to fertility treatments, the expert panel also recommended an overhaul of Ontario's adoption rules.

The panel called for a centralized provincial adoption agency to run adoption services. Ontario currently has three methods of adoption, including Children's Aid societies, private adoption agencies and international adoption.