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2006 Public Policy Highlights and
Accomplishments for Osteoporosis
Patients
NOF advocates for support
of federal osteoporosis research,
awareness, education, and patient access
to quality osteoporosis heath care.
Highlights of NOF 2006 public policy
efforts include:
Federal Funding for Osteoporosis
Research
National Coalition for Osteoporosis and
Related Bone Diseases (Bone Coalition)
Bone Coalition Day on Capitol Hill:
NOF, as a leader of the Bone Coalition,
participated in a Capitol Hill Day. A
group of researchers, patients and staff
urged Members of Congress to support
expanded programs and increased funding
for bone health research at the National
Institutes of Health.
National Institutes of Health:
NOF played a key role in advocating for
funding of osteoporosis and bone health
research at the same time it fought to
maintain and increase overall funding
for the NIH. During Fiscal Year (FY)
2006, NIH estimates that $168 million
will be spent on research related to
osteoporosis.
Department of Defense (DOD) Bone
Research Program Funding: Working
with the Bone Coalition, NOF was
instrumental in obtaining congressional
funding for the Department of Defense
bone research programs and maintaining
the $45 million DOD Defense
Peer-Reviewed Medical Research that
includes research on osteoporosis and
other bone diseases. An additional $1
million in funding was secured for the
Bone Health Military Medical Readiness
Research Program for Fiscal Year 2007.
Promoting Awareness
The U.S. House of Representatives passed
a resolution supporting the goals
and ideals of National Osteoporosis
Awareness and Prevention Month.
Several Members of Congress discussed
the importance of awareness, prevention,
and education to prevent osteoporosis
and promote better bone health.
Improving Access and Quality Health
Care
Congress passed tax legislation that
included four osteoporosis measures in
the Physician Quality Reporting
Initiative. NOF worked with other
organizations to create and analyze
these measures for inclusion in the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS) physician quality
reporting system. Implementation of the
CMS measures, which begins in 2007,
includes screening for osteoporosis,
fracture management, osteoporosis
therapy, and counseling.
NOF supported funding for the
geriatric health professions program.
Building upon the recent White House
Conference on Aging and its top ten
resolutions, NOF worked to gain
congressional support to restore this
$32 million geriatric training program
that had been eliminated the previous
year.
NOF Success with Medicare
Prescription Drug Benefit Draft Model
Guidelines: NOF strongly supports
keeping the guidelines current to ensure
that the full range of FDA-approved
osteoporosis treatments is readily
available to Medicare patients. To
further this position, NOF advocated for
and succeeded in maintaining multiple
categories for osteoporosis therapies
under the Medicare prescription drug
program.
NOF supported the passage of legislation
to address Medicare outpatient
therapy restrictions. NOF joined
with other patient organizations to
successfully oppose limits on the amount
of reimbursement for outpatient physical
and occupational therapy permitted under
the Medicare program.
Advocate Training and Development
Strong Voices for Strong Bones
Advocacy Training Meetings: The
“Strong Voices for Strong Bones Advocacy
Training Meetings” are central to NOF’s
public policy outreach in the states. In
2006, NOF continued this series of
regional meetings to educate individuals
about advocating for osteoporosis and
bone health with local, state and
federal government officials. NOF hosted
meetings in Denver, Colorado; East
Lansing, Michigan; and Atlanta, Georgia.
The interactive, one-day workshops
focused on training attendees to
effectively communicate with lawmakers
about osteoporosis-related issues. NOF
resources, such as the Advocacy Action
Center, were promoted to assist
participants in advocating for
osteoporosis research, prevention,
education and access to quality care.
Government leaders, state department of
health commissioners, local civic
leaders, and health professionals
discussed barriers to osteoporosis
healthcare and prevention while
encouraging advocates in their work to
address these challenges.
2005 Legislative Updates |
