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Medicare to Promote Coordinated Care While Lowering Costs
As the administration works to implement the Affordable Care Act, there are several regulatory proposals on the horizon. NOF highlighted the need for osteoporosis care for men and women after they have broken a bone in its comments on one such proposal which would affect access to quality care for Medicare patients.
On June 3rd NOF submitted its recommendations to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on a proposed regulation to help doctors, hospitals, and other providers better coordinate care for Medicare patients through Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). Certain health care providers could form or participate in ACOs to coordinate services for Medicare patients. By providing coordinated care for patients, ACOs could lower costs while providing higher quality care for Medicare patients. If ACOs lower the growth in Medicare costs while meeting certain quality standards, the ACO could receive a share of those savings from CMS.
The proposed rule contains a list of 65 quality measures that ACOs must meet to quality for a share of the savings from coordinated care. One of those measures specifically addresses osteoporosis by encouraging ACOs to make sure women 65 years and older either have a bone density test or begin treatment for osteoporosis within six months of breaking a bone.
In addition to thanking CMS for including a quality measure on osteoporosis management for women, NOF also recommended that osteoporosis management for men who have broken a bone be included in the required quality measures. Recent research shows that both men and women who break a bone are at an increased risk for breaking a bone again in the future. To read NOF’s comment letter on the proposed rule click here.
The latest
Last week, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Panel voted that the risks of calcitonin salmon outweigh the benefits for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. The panel joined health authorities around the world in reviewing the drug’s safety after two recent studies showed slightly higher rates of cancer among patients taking calcitonin. The panel voted against continued use of the drug by a narrow majority, pointing out that it has not been found very effective in preventing bone fractures.
In today's Washington Post article "Calcium and Vitamin D findings show that caring for your bones can be compilicated," NOF's senior clinical director, Dr. Felicia Cosman helps clear up some of the confusion around the recent and conflicting research on calcium and vitamin D. She says: "It’s confusing, even for doctors. But there’s a common thread: None of the heart or kidney risks were associated with calcium from food."
CIRCA, the leading international buyer of fine jewelry, diamonds and watches, announced a new partnership with NOF at a Generations of Strength luncheon at the Friars Club in New York City on February 26. To kick-off the partnership, CIRCA’s Acting CEO Mary L. Forté presented NOF Executive Director and CEO Amy Porter with a check for $25,000, to support NOF’s mission.
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