Our Issues
Bone Health and Osteoporosis Policy
NOF's public policy programs advance public health policies that promote better bone health and osteoporosis awareness and education, prevention and treatment.NOF advocates are fighting in their home states and in Washington, DC to achieve these goals!
Learn more about our Priorities, Achievements, and Key Legislation. |
Priorities:
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
As legislation is introduced in the 111th Congress, we will update this section of the Web site.
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