1232 22nd Street N.W.
Washington, D.C.
20037-1202
(202) 223.2226
1 (800) 231-4222

Our Issues

Priorities:

• Access to Quality Care
• Prevention and Education
• Bone Health Research

Ensure Access to Quality Healthcare for People with or at risk for Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis patients and those at risk for the disease must have access to testing, treatment options and medications to improve their health and to prevent costly fractures and other complications. NOF continues to fight for comprehensive private and public health insurance coverage.

In Congress, NOF continues to fight to expand Medicare coverage of bone density tests for all individuals who are at risk for osteoporosis.

NOF supports efforts to reverse Medicare reimbursement reductions for certain osteoporosis tests, which will decrease the availability of osteoporosis testing and weaken efforts to reduce the expensive and debilitating consequences of osteoporosis and low bone mass.

Fund Comprehensive Osteoporosis Prevention and Education

Many individuals are not aware that they are at risk of developing osteoporosis or low bone mass, which places them at risk for the disease, and therefore do not take action to prevent the onset of low bone mass through diet, exercise, or medicines.

NOF advocates for federal and state funding of public prevention and education programs on osteoporosis and bone health to improve public health.

NOF supports the creation of a national campaign to increase awareness and knowledge of osteoporosis and to make demonstration program grants to provide information and outreach for the prevention of osteoporosis.

Expand the Federal Commitment to Osteoporosis and Bone Health Research

In an effort to find a cure for osteoporosis and improve the quality of life for those with the disease, NOF is fighting for increased research funding for the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense.

NOF supports increased funding for the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, the lead institute for bone research.

NOF supports increased funding for the Department of Defense research programs on osteoporosis and bone health.

Achievements

• Uniform Medicare coverage of bone density testing for most individuals at risk for osteoporosis
• U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations for osteoporosis testing for women
• Surgeon General report on bone health and osteoporosis
• Federal government bone health awareness and education program for girls

Key Legislation

Below are the key pieces of legislation that NOF currently supports. If you would like to learn more about our key legislation please click on the link provided.

• The Medicare Fracture Prevention and Osteoporosis Testing Act of 2007 (H.R. 4206/S. 2702) would reverse Medicare reimbursement reductions for certain osteoporosis tests, study reimbursement reductions’ effects on access to bone density testing and provide recommendations to increase utilization of osteoporosis testing by Medicare beneficiaries.
• The Access to Medicare Imaging Act of 2007 (H.R. 1293/S. 1338) would provide for a study and two-year moratorium on reductions in reimbursement for imaging services.
• The Medicare Osteoporosis Measurement Act of 2007 (H.R. 2340) would provide Medicare coverage of bone density tests for all individuals at clinical risk for osteoporosis.
• The WISEWOMAN Expansion Act of 2007 (H.R. 2404) and HeLP America Act (S. 1342) would expand the current WISEWOMAN demonstration program to additional states and provide eligible low-income, uninsured women screening and preventive health care services for chronic diseases, such as osteoporosis.
• The Mother's Day Centennial Commemorative Coin Act (H.R. 2268 /S. 2883) would provide funding for osteoporosis and breast cancer research.

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