A new study published this week in the December issue of Health Affairs looked at the impact cuts in Medicare Part B reimbursement have had on access and utilization of DXA testing, the imaging procedure accepted as the gold standard for diagnosing osteoporosis. The study found that after a decade of growth, DXA testing in all Part B settings was stagnant from 2007-2009, resulting in 800,000 fewer tests than expected for Medicare beneficiaries, which if conducted, may have prevented approximately 12,000 fractures.
ORAL REMARKS – NOF President Robert R. Recker - FDA – September 9, 2011
Good afternoon. I am Dr. Robert Recker, director of the Osteoporosis Research Center at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska and am here as president of the National Osteoporosis Foundation, the leading consumer and community-focused health organization dedicated to the prevention of osteoporosis and broken bones. » Read more
In this letter, NOF President, Dr. Robert R. Recker, commends the FDA for examining the benefits and risks of long term bisphosphonate use and lays out NOF’s hope that its recommendations will help patients and their healthcare providers better understand the benefits and significant risks of the widely prescribed medications.
In this session, Dr. Khosla will explore the future of osteoporosis therapies including new pathways under investigation and other promising therapeutic agents in development.
Estrogen plays a key role in building and maintaining bone in both men and women. Other sex hormones will be discussed as well to show the different effects each has in the body. It may be possible to use levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in the blood as a marker to estimate the degree of bone loss during menopause. » Read more
Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by weakened and fragile bone tissue, leading to an increased chance of breaking a bone. The weakened tissue is due to changes in the amount and structure of bone. While people with osteoporosis are most likely to break bones in the spine, hip or wrist, almost any bone can be affected. These bone breaks often occur with minor accidents such as falls, or banging into objects, but can even occur after no accident at all. » Read more
WASHINGTON, DC (May 12, 2011) – A faculty of internationally-renowned osteoporosis experts are gathering next week to share the latest clinically-relevant information on osteoporosis prevention, diagnosis and treatment at the National Osteoporosis Foundation’s (NOF) 9th International Symposium on Osteoporosis (ISO9): Translating Research Into Clinical Practice, May 18 -21 at The Cosmopolitan™ of Las Vegas in Las Vegas, NV. Held annually, ISO9 aims to bridge the gap between osteoporosis research and its application in clinical practice. » Read more
WASHINGTON — The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) held a briefing on Capitol Hill today on bone health and osteoporosis. The briefing, titled A Gift to Mothers, featured patients and their family members speaking about the impact their diagnosis has had on their lives and the about the challenges they face. In addition, NOF provided attendees with the 2010 Survey of State Osteoporosis Activities that includes state-specific data on osteoporosis prevalence and programs. Today’s briefing also included special guests Representative Michael C. Burgess, M.D.
WASHINGTON, DC (May 5, 2011) – The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) will honor Mercedes Ellington, dancer, choreographer and granddaughter of “Duke” Ellington, at its Silhouette Awards Dinner on Thursday, May 19 at The Cosmopolitan™ of Las Vegas. Other honorees include Director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), Stephen I. Katz, M.D., Ph.D.; C. Conrad Johnston, Jr., M.D. of the Indiana University School of Medicine; and patient advocate, Sally Fullman, Ph.D.
WASHINGTON, DC (May 2, 2011) – In honor of National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month, the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) and Harris Interactive are releasing the results of a survey about osteoporosis awareness and prevention. Overall, the survey shows promising results, with most respondents indicating they were aware of osteoporosis, its risk factors and how to prevent the disease. However, 34 percent of respondents indicated they had never heard of osteoporosis at all, showing that more works needs to be done. » Read more
WASHINGTON, DC (March 21, 2011) — The National Bone Health Alliance (NBHA), a private-public partnership working to improve the overall health and quality of life of all Americans by enhancing their bone health, has named David B. Lee, MPA, the new Director of the Alliance effective March 21, 2011. » Read more
