Osteoporosis is under-diagnosed in the Medicare population and the DXA scans are the gold standard for osteoporosis diagnosis, yet in 2007, CMS began significantly reducing reimbursement for DXA scans. This reduced the number of physicians in private offices offering DXA. As a result, fewer women and men were scanned resulting in a decline in osteoporosis diagnosis. Without diagnosis, fewer patients received effective treatment for low bone mass, which is now being reflected in increased fracture risk.
Learn more by downloading this DXA Testing by the Numbers slide show showing a state-by-state breakdown of DXA testing numbers in the US.