Help Advocate to Save Access to Bone Density Testing

The recent reductions in reimbursement for bone density testing are impacting access to this important diagnostic service. Currently, only about 20% of people with osteoporosis have been identified and even fewer have received the care they need to prevent debilitating and even deadly fractures.

According to the International Society of Clinical Densitometry, our advocacy efforts are making a difference in Washington. Senators Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) have filed a bill to address the cuts (S.769 Medicare Fracture Prevention and Osteoporosis Testing Act of 2009).  In the House, Representative Shelley Berkley (D-1st-NV) and Representative Michael Burgess (R-26th-TX) have introduced companion legislation (H.R. 1894) with over 60 original co-sponsors-click here for a listing. These bills would return reimbursement for bone density testing to 2006 levels.

We are well on the way with over 80 co-sponsors on the bill in the House and 8 co-sponsors in the Senate. We continue to need your help! 

Your stories about how the bone density testing cuts have affected your life have been a very powerful tool in the lobbying efforts and will be distributed at a Capitol Hill Briefing.

It is important for us to put a human face on this issue. If you have a story to tell about how their access to bone density testing has changed your life, please email Donna Fiorentino at dfiorentino@iscd.org.  If you plan to be in Washington on June 9th or 10th, please contact  Donna Fiorentino if you are interested in attending the briefings or participating in the Capitol Hill visits.

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