Endocrine Insider
October 25, 2007

Representative Shelley Berkley (D- Nevada) is planning to introduce legislation in support of sustained funding for dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) services. The Endocrine Society, working with the National Osteoporosis Foundation and several of its sister societies, has been working toward a legislative fix for the drastic Medicare reimbursement cuts to DXA and VFA. The bill, the Medicare Fracture Prevention and Osteoporosis Testing Act, will overturn these cuts, which CMS has already begun implementing. The cuts, which in total will reduce payment for DXA tests from $140 in 2006 to $35 in 2010, have made it difficult for providers such as endocrinologists to continue to offer DXA and VFA tests to their patients in the office setting. Many providers are discontinuing DXA and VFA testing in their offices and imaging centers as a result of the dramatic reductions in payment.

Representative Berkley is currently looking for additional members of the House of Representatives to become original co-sponsors of this legislation. You can help by taking a minute to e-mail your member of Congress. You can do so by clicking on “Action Alert: DXA Legislation to be Introduced – Contact Your Representative Now!” at the following link: http://capwiz.com/endocrine/home/. Let them know that you would like them to be an original co-sponsor of the Medicare Fracture Prevention and Osteoporosis Testing Act. A sample letter has been created for you; you may customize it if you wish.

If you have additional questions on this legislation or on contacting your member of Congress, please contact Holly Whelan, Manager, Health Policy at hwhelan@endo-society.org.