The American Medical Association has adopted a new policy supporting physician education on osteoporosis and advocating for expanded insurance coverage of evidence-based osteoporosis screening and treatment.
The policy was approved June 9 during the AMA House of Delegates’ annual meeting and is aimed at improving awareness of the bone disease, which affects an estimated 10 million Americans, according to the organization, according to a June 9 news release.
Under the policy, the AMA will support physician education efforts focused on bone health and reducing osteoporosis-related fractures. The organization also plans to increase patient awareness of osteoporosis and promote strategies to maintain bone health, including physical activity, nutrition and recommended screening.
The policy builds on the AMA’s existing support for bone density testing and insurance coverage for patients at increased risk of osteoporosis. An estimated 44 million Americans have low bone density, placing them at greater risk of developing the disease, according to the release.
Current U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations support osteoporosis screening for women age 65 and older and for postmenopausal women younger than 65 who have one or more risk factors for osteoporosis. The task force has said there is insufficient evidence to determine whether routine screening in men helps prevent fractures.
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