Our Latest Efforts
Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation Announces Its Congressional Bone Health Champion Award Winners for 2024 »
October 4, 2024 (Arlington, VA) â The Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF) is pleased to announce the 2024 recipients of our national award to recognize Members of Congress who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, advocacy, and commitment to protect and improve the bone health of Americans. The awards are presented annually by BHOF to highlight… Read more »
35 National Health Organizations Call on Medicare to Use 2025 Payment Rule to Improve Patient Care and Prevent Osteoporosis-Related Broken Bones »
September 12, 2024 (Arlington, VA) â There needs to be immediate action on providing appropriate post-fracture care for Americaâs seniors, said 35 diverse national patient and health professional organizations. These organizations joined together in urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to substantially improve care for the 10 million Americans with osteoporosis by reducing… Read more »
Medicareâs Proposed 2025 PFS Rule Takes Critical First Steps to Improve Post-Fracture Care for Osteoporosis Patients in the U.S. »
National Patient and Medical Groups Praise CMS for âGiving Patients Hopeâ and Call for Further Action The proposed 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) rule issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) last week recognizes the need to substantially improve care for the 10 million Americans who suffer from osteoporosis, almost two… Read more »
Recipients of 2023 Congressional Bone Health Champion Awards Announced »
December 1, 2023 (Arlington, VA) â The Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF) is pleased to announce the 2023 recipients of our national award to recognize Members of Congress who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, advocacy, and commitment to protect and improve the bone health of Americans. The awards are presented annually by BHOF to highlight… Read more »
Fifteen States Take Action to Combat Osteoporosis and Strengthen Bone Health »
May 2023 is Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month May 23, 2023 (Arlington, VA) â Fifteen states across the nation have taken steps through legislation and executive action to tackle the costly and growing problem of osteoporosis. Arizona, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin have… Read more »
Senator Shelley Capito Selected as Congressional Bone Health Champion Award Winner for âOutstanding Leadership, Advocacy and Commitment” »
December 7, 2022 (Arlington, VA) â Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia) has been selected as a 2022 recipient of the Congressional Bone Health Champion award by the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF). The award annually recognizes Members of Congress who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, advocacy, and commitment to protect and improve the bone health… Read more »
Rep. Linda SĂĄnchez Selected as Congressional Bone Health Champion Award Winner for âOutstanding Leadership, Advocacy and Commitment” »
December 7, 2022 (Arlington, VA) â Representative Linda SĂĄnchez (D-California) has been selected as a 2022 recipient of the Congressional Bone Health Champion award by the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF). The award annually recognizes Members of Congress who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, advocacy, and commitment to protect and improve the bone health of all… Read more »
Rep. Burgess Selected as Congressional Bone Health Champion Award Winner for “Outstanding Leadership, Advocacy and Commitment” »
December 1, 2022 (Arlington, VA) â Representative Michael Burgess, M.D. (R-Texas) has been selected as a 2022 recipient of the Congressional Bone Health Champion award by the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF). The award annually recognizes Members of Congress who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, advocacy, and commitment to protect and improve the bone health… Read more »
Recipients Of 2022 Congressional Bone Health Champion Award Announced »
October 20, 2022 (Arlington, VA) â The Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF) is pleased to announce the 2022 recipients of our national award to recognize Members of Congress who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, advocacy, and commitment to protect and improve the bone health of Americans. The awards are presented annually by BHOF to highlight… Read more »
Several States Take Action to Strengthen Bone Health Awareness and Combat Osteoporosis »
May 31, 2022 (Arlington, VA) â Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month is commemorated annually in May. In support of the month, eight states have taken steps through legislation and executive action to raise awareness about the growing crisis of osteoporosis. Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and West Virginia have introduced, passed legislation or… Read more »
State Resolutions Proclaiming May as Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month »
On the heels of the 2021 Milliman Reportâs state-based data addressing the differences in the economic and clinical impact of fractures suffered by Americans on Medicare, the Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF) has asked state legislatures to reinforce May as Osteoporosis Awareness & Prevention Month and spread awareness of osteoporosis and its impact. Thank… Read more »
Rep. Larson Selected as Congressional Bone Health Champion Award for âOutstanding Leadership, Advocacy and Commitmentâ »
FEBRUARY 16, 2022 (Arlington, VA) â Representative John B. Larson (D-Connecticut), has been selected as an inaugural recipient of the Congressional Bone Health Champion award by the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation. The award recognizes Members of Congress who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, advocacy, and commitment to protect and improve the bone health of Americans. Rep. Larson is… Read more »
Senator Collins Selected as Congressional Bone Health Champion Award for “Outstanding Leadership, Advocacy and Commitment” »
JANUARY 10, 2022Â (Arlington, VA) â U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), has been selected as an inaugural recipient of the Congressional Bone Health Champion award by the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation. The award recognizes Members of Congress who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, advocacy, and commitment to protect and improve the bone health of Americans. Senator… Read more »
Recipients Of Inaugural Congressional Bone Health Champion Award Announced »
Awards Recognize Outstanding Leadership To Improve Bone Health Of Americans DECEMBER 21, 2021 (Arlington, VA) â The Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF) is pleased to announce the inaugural recipients of a new national award to recognize Members of Congress who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, advocacy, and commitment to protect and improve the bone health of… Read more »
Rep. John B. Larson Introduces Bill to Make Osteoporosis Screening More Accessible »
This week, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) introduced the Increasing Access to Osteoporosis Testing for Medicare Beneficiaries Act of 2021 (H.R. 3517) with Reps. Linda SĂĄnchez (CA-38), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Michael Burgess M.D. (TX-26), and Jackie Walorski (IN-02) to improve access to osteoporosis screening. Fractures caused by osteoporosis are among the most significant challenges threatening the independence and quality of life for… Read more »
April is National Minority Health Month »
April 2021 is the National Minority Health Month and the National Osteoporosis Foundation believes that providing awareness and education about bone health will help bridge the disparity gap in healthcare. âWe must proactively address disparities in healthcare and help raise awareness about bone health for all Americans.â Claire Gill, CEO National Osteoporosis Foundation Three questions… Read more »
NOF Statement on Access to Osteoporosis Medications Covered Under Medicare Part B During COVID-19 Pandemic »
Contact: Claire Gill, Interim CEO claire.gill@bonehealthandosteoporosis.org The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), the countryâs leading health organization representing 10 million Americans who suffer from osteoporosis, a chronic disease that weakens bone and increases a personâs risk for debilitating and deadly fractures, urges Members of Congress to assure that patients who are covered by Medicare Part B… Read more »
Legislation to Assist in Restoring Patient Access to DXA Testing »
NOF and colleagues in the Fracture Prevention Coalition are supporting legislation â HR 2693 and S283 in Congress. This legislation would help ensure that patients have access to DXA testing by restoring Medicare funding for DXA. We are grateful to the following Members of Congress who have signed on as co-sponsors of this important legislation. Below is a… Read more »
DXA Testing by the Numbers – Updated »
Osteoporosis is under-diagnosed in the Medicare population and the DXA scans are the gold standard for osteoporosis diagnosis, yet in 2007, CMS began significantly reducing reimbursement for DXA scans. This reduced the number of physicians in private offices offering DXA. As a result, fewer women and men were scanned resulting in a decline in osteoporosis… Read more »
13 Leading Aging, Caregiver and Womenâs Health Groups Join Forces to Reduce Common and Costly Bone Fractures »
ARLINGTON, VA, (MAY 29, 2019) — In the United States, half of all women and 20 percent of men age 50 and older will break a bone due to osteoporosis in their lifetime and many will die or be forced into nursing homes as a result. In fact, bone fractures related to osteoporosis are responsible… Read more »
National Bone Health Policy Institute Responds to Proposed Rules »
NOF on behalf of the NBHPI has submitted comments to CMS and HHS regarding proposed rules that could impact osteoporosis patients access to testing and treatment. Comment letters have been submitted for the following: December 31, 2019 – Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: International Price Index Model for Medicare Part B Drugs CMS-5528-ANPRM January 25,… Read more »
NOF Statement on Medicare Part B »
Washington, DC (October 25, 2018) â The National Osteoporosis Foundation issued the following statement regarding announced changes the Medicare Part B program: âMedicare Part B is vital to patients living with and managing chronic illnesses, like osteoporosis. Key to treatment under the program is the ability for doctors and patients to tailor care to the… Read more »
DXA Testing by the Numbers »
Osteoporosis is under-diagnosed in the Medicare population according to a recent CDC NHANES survey. DXA scans are the gold standard for osteoporosis diagnosis, yet in 2007, CMS began significantly reducing reimbursement for DXA scans. This reduced the number of physicians in private offices offering DXA. As a result, fewer women and men were scanned resulting… Read more »
NOF Statement On Medicare Open Enrollment »
Patient Group Urges Fix To DXA Screening Reimbursement Rates To Encourage More Osteoporosis Screenings Today, as Medicare Open Enrollment starts, the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) urged policymakers to raise the reimbursement rates for x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) screenings, which are the gold standard for osteoporosis screenings. Currently, bipartisan bills are sitting in both Chambers that would… Read more »
NOF Statement on Medicare Part D Cliff »
Washington, DC Â â The National Osteoporosis Foundation issued the following statement regarding the impending out-of-pocket cliff threatening the Medicare Part D program: âA looming threat to the Medicare Part D program is set to take effect in 2020 unless Congress takes action. The Part D cliff will significantly increase the catastrophic threshold â the amount… Read more »
NOF is Advocating for Increased Medicare Reimbursement for DXA Scans »
Fractures related to osteoporosis threaten the health and independence of older Americans. And fractures are common: more than 2 million fractures happen each year due to osteoporosis. The statistics are staggering and unnecessary. A DXA (Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) bone density test is a non-invasive, simple, yet top quality test for screening and diagnosing patients that… Read more »
NOF Statement on Medicare Part D »
Washington, DC â The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) sent the following statement to Members of Congress on the importance of protecting Medicare Part D: NOF is concerned that recent changes to the Medicare Part D program in the Bipartisan Budget Act (BBA) of 2018 opens the door to other potentially harmful changes that could disrupt… Read more »
NOF Support for Issues of Importance to Osteoporosis Patients »
NOF has been working hard on supporting issues of importance to osteoporosis patients by signing onto advocacy letters. Below you will be able to view and download letters we have signed onto: DXA Coalition Support Letter Medicare Community Statement LIS Co-Pay Letter SNAP Vitamin and Mineral Letter MassHealth Section 1115 Demonstration Amendment Request Medicare Access… Read more »
NOF Supporting the LIS Program »
NOF has joined with other leading patient advocacy organizations on the national and state level to support the LIS program within Medicare Part D. NOF has signed on to the attached letters along with hundreds of other national and state-level organizations. To review them, please click on the letters below: Â Â
NOF Response to S. 1688 Bill »
The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), which recently led a letter to Congress signed by over 300 health advocacy groups opposing harmful government interference in the Medicare Part D program, today issued the following statement in response to S. 1688: âIt is discouraging that, despite direct opposition from over 300 health advocates, members of Congress have… Read more »
NOF Statement on Democratic Economic Proposal »
Washington, DC (July 26, 2017) â The following statement addresses the recent Democratic Economic Proposal and can be attributed to Amy Porter, Executive Director & CEO of the National Osteoporosis Foundation: âWe are deeply concerned that legislators continue to propose harmful changes to the essential Medicare Part D program despite clear evidence that the program… Read more »
Osteoporosis Care is Under Siege: How You Can Help »
Fractures related to osteoporosis threaten the health and independence of older Americans. And fractures are common: more than 2 million fractures happen each year due to osteoporosis. The statistics are staggering and unnecessary. A DXA (Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) bone density test is a non-invasive, simple, yet top-quality test for screening and diagnosing patients that may… Read more »
The Cost of Prescription Drugs: How the Drug Delivery System Affects What Patients Pay »
Washington, DC (June 13, 2017) â The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), today issued the following statement in response to the Senate HELP hearing âThe Cost of Prescription Drugs: How the Drug Delivery System Affects What Patients Payâ âDuring todayâs hearing, several Senators raised the idea of allowing for the government to set prices in the… Read more »
Protect Patient Access to Medication »
Dear Member of Congress, We, the undersigned organizations, are writing to express opposition to proposals that would allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to interfere in private negotiations in the Medicare Part D program. We are concerned that such proposals could undermine Part Dâs competitive structure and restrict access for millions of… Read more »
Medicare Part D Works and Congress Must Ensure Non-Interference Provision Remains In Place »
The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) urges Members of Congress to oppose any amendment to repeal the non-interference provision of the Medicare Part D law. Senior citizens and people with disabilities have access to important, needed medications thanks to Medicare Part D. Part D provides this access and affordability for Medicare participants thanks to its competitive,… Read more »