The Endocrine Society strongly urges Congress to protect patient access to DXA (dual X-ray absorptiometry) - the leading diagnostic tool for the early detection and management of osteoporosis.
New legislation introduced by Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV), HR 4206 “Medicare Fracture Prevention and Osteoporosis Testing Act of 2007,” would restore essential funding for this vital healthcare service.
“Congresswoman Berkley should be commended for leading the charge to protect essential patient care for osteoporosis,” said Margaret Shupnik, Ph.D., president of The Endocrine Society. “This is vitally important for hundreds of thousands of women, particularly in rural areas, who rely on their personal physicians as their first and only line of defense against this debilitating yet preventable disease.”
Looming cuts to Medicare threaten to drastically reduce medical reimbursement for this service. Left unchecked, these cuts would prevent many doctors from providing DXA services in their offices.
A recent survey by the Lewin Group revealed that 90 percent of physicians who currently offer DXA would be unable to afford this service by the year 2010 when the cuts are scheduled to go into full effect. Congresswoman Berkley's legislation would restore Medicare funding for DXA to 2006 levels, before the cuts went into effect.
Optimal osteoporosis care requires the coming together of many different elements—accurate test results, direct medical intervention by endocrinologists and family practitioners, and personal attention to lifestyle and preventative care strategies. “Patients are best served when their doctors can have first-hand access to DXA test results and can consult with their patients directly to determine the most effective treatment and prevention options,” said Shupnik.
DXA is the recognized standard for testing for hip, spine, and vertebral fracture risk. It is the most widely used and most regarded bone density measurement technology.