Newsletters

Winter 2007

Medicare Cuts Threaten Osteoporosis Care

Drastic reductions in Medicare payments for bone density testing begin on January 1, 2007. Additional cuts are scheduled for each year until 2010. These cuts are so severe that most bone density testing centers will soon be forced to close their doors. This is an extremely serious situation that is likely to have a major impact on the care of osteoporosis in the US. Access to bone density testing may become limited to hospitals, the quality of testing may suffer, and comparison with previous tests may not be possible.

This is happening despite other federal initiatives that recognize that osteoporosis is underdiagnosed and undertreated. The US Surgeon General’s Report on Bone Health and Osteoporosis encourages the use of bone density testing to diagnose osteoporosis before the first fracture occurs. More bone density testing rather than less is what is needed. Please consider contacting your legislators to tell them how you feel.

New Mexico Congressional Delegation

Senate
Online: www.senate.gov

Senator Pete V. Domenici
328 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-3101
DC Phone: 202-224-6621
DC Fax: 202-228-3261

Senator Jeff Bingaman
703 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-3102
DC Phone: 202-224-5521
DC Fax: 202-224-2852

House of Representatives
Online: www.house.gov

Representative Heather A. Wilson
(First Congressional District)
318 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3101
Phone: (202) 225-6316
Fax: (202) 225-4975

Representative Steve Pearce
(Second Congressional District)
1607 Longworth House Office Bldg
Washington, D.C. 20515-3102
DC Phone: 202-225-2365
DC Fax: 202-225-9599

Representative Thomas Udall
(Third Congressional District)
1414 Longworth House Office Bldg
Washington, D.C. 20515-3103
DC Phone: 202-225-6190
DC Fax: 202-226-1331