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 need to be treated for osteoporosis. DXA is more powerful in predicting fractures than cholesterol is in predicting a heart attack or blood pressure is in predicting a stroke. Unfortunately, since 2007, Medicare has significantly cut the funding for DXA testing in physician’s offices leading to a sharp decline in the number of people tested, diagnosed and treated, and the number of physicians offering this service, resulting in an increase in hip fractures.

NOF and colleagues in the Fracture Prevention Coalition are supporting legislation – HR 1898 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 list of Cosponsors in the 115th Congress: