-
Get the latest information and research on osteoporosis.
-
Find treatment, guidance and advice on living with osteoporosis.
-
Share your experience and get involved. Joining the conversation is the first step to ending osteoporosis and broken bones.
Medicare Reimbursement Rates for DXA Not Extended by Congress
Congress did not include an extension of the current Medicare reimbursement rates for DXA in the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act, H.R. 3630. Despite a strong advocacy effort carried out by NOF and the DXA Coalition in contacting Members of Congress, as well as strong bipartisan support among many of the House and Senate conferees who negotiated the tax package, there was some opposition to extending the current Medicare reimbursement rates for DXA, resulting in the provisions being eliminated from the final package.
NOF worked with the DXA Coalition to secure support from 22 patient, professional, health and community organizations who signed on to a letter sent to conferees on January 30 urging them to include language to protect current reimbursement levels is he in the final conference report (H.R. 3630). On February 9, NOF sent out an alert to its advocates and to NBHA member organizations asking them to contact their Members of Congress and urge them to protect patient access to osteoporosis testing by including current reimbursement levels in the in the final conference report (H.R. 3630).
NOF, with its partners in the DXA Coalition, will work in the months ahead to address the concerns expressed by some Members of Congress, which include obtaining stronger data to reflect the impact of DXA reimbursement policy on patient access to bone density testing, utilization rates and a report by the Institute of Medicine studying these same issues.
There will be another opportunity to get the current DXA payment rates extended after the elections this fall when Congress addresses the next Medicare physician payment (SGR) cut, scheduled to take effect January 1, 2013. In the meantime, the DXA Coalition will also work with the Administration to see what, if any, relief can be provided to physicians to ensure the healthcare system’s capacity for providing osteoporosis testing and treatment services is not irrevocably diminished.
In the meantime we need your continued support to raise awareness of the negative impact that drastic cuts to Medicare reimbursement rates for DXA may have on those living with or at risk for osteoporosis.
The latest
The National Osteoporosis Foundation has named Barbara Hannah Grufferman as its first Bone Health Ambassador. In this newly-established role, Grufferman, a well-known advocate for healthy and positive living, will dedicate her time, talent and energy to raise awareness for osteoporosis and the importance of building strong bones for life.
Thanks to a generous gift from The Samuel J. & Ethel LeFrak Charitable Trust, the National Osteoporosis Foundation met its Generations of Strength fundraising goal one year early. NOF launched the Generations of Strength initiative in September 2011 with the goal of raising $2 million in two years to improve patient care for the most vulnerable – those who have broken bones due to osteoporosis – and to protect future generations from the disease.
The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), the nation’s leading health organization dedicated to preventing osteoporosis and broken bones, has named Claire Gill as its Senior Director of Marketing, Consumer and Corporate Outreach. Gill brings extensive experience in public relations and marketing communications to this newly-established role.
