That means the three DHBs that have been charging for privately referred lab tests -- Capital and Coast, Hutt Valley and Tairawhiti -- will reinstate publicly funded tests when their current contract arrangements expire over the next two years.
"This decision means the country returns to a single policy on privately referred lab charges," Mr Ryall said today.
"For many years patients' lab tests ordered by private specialists have been publicly funded, just like medicines prescribed by private specialists."
The previous government approved charging for privately referred lab tests by the three DHBs in 2006, intending to require all DHBs to do so.
Soon after the 2008 election, Mr Ryall ordered a moratorium on any more DHBs doing it and commissioned an independent review.
"That review found patients who didn't have insurance cover or who had chronic or complex conditions requiring ongoing tests unfairly faced large bills," he said.
"Some of those patients subsequently chose to delay, reduce or even forgo the tests they needed."
Mr Ryall said he understood doctors interviewed during the review opposed charging for lab tests.
"While there were savings for DHBs charging for these tests, I've been advised a national roll out of the policy would force up insurance premiums across the board," he said.
"That in turn would drive some privately insured patients into the public health system. Reverting to the previous arrangement makes a lot of sense."
