Mercy Logo
Key Centers: Birthplace Cancer Heart Women's Health Other Services

Osteoporosis

Who needs a bone density test?

Bone density testing can be used to establish or confirm a diagnosis of osteoporosis and predict future fracture risk. It is the only sure way to determine bone density. The decision to test for bone density should be based on an individual’s risk profile.

The National Osteoporosis Foundation’s (NOF) guidelines reference postmenopausal women, but younger women who have several risk factors should discuss bone density testing with their health care providers. Strategies can be started to prevent osteoporosis if bone density testing determines bone loss is occurring. Men at risk for bone loss and osteoporosis can also be tested.

The NOF guidelines recommend bone density testing should be performed on:

  • All women aged 65 and older regardless of risk factors
  • Younger women who are postmenopausal and have one or more risk factors in addition to being white, female and postmenopausal
  • Postmenopausal women who experience fractures (to confirm the diagnosis and determine disease severity)

Medicare Information

Medicare covers bone density testing for the following individuals age 65 and older:

  • Estrogen-deficient women at clinical risk for osteoporosis
  • Individuals with vertebral abnormalities
  • Individuals receiving or planning to receive long-term glucocorticoid (steroid) therapy
  • Individuals with hyperparathyroidism
  • Individuals being monitored to assess the response or efficacy of an approved osteoporosis drug therapy

Medicare permits individuals to repeat bone density testing every two years. Some exceptions do allow for more frequent testing.

 
Printer-Friendly Page Email This Page

Associated Physicians

There are more than 20 Doctors with specialties relevant to the health topics on this page. Please select a specialty below to list the Doctors for that specialty.

Related News

There are 7 related news items.

100,000 Lives Program  Jun 15 2006 Mercy Medical Center is celebrating its achievements as a participant in a nationwide initiative to save 100,000 lives by June 14, 2006.

Eight Mercy Nurses Honored as Great Iowa Nurses  Mar 23 2007 Mercy Medical Center is proud to announce that eight Mercy nurses have been selected to be honored among the 100 Great Iowa Nurses for 2007

Mercy Administrator Elected President of AONE  Oct 31 2006 Carol A. Watson, PhD, RN has been elected president-elect of the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE). She is the Senior Vice President of Clinical Services and Chief Nurse Executive at Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids.

Mercy Commits To Improving Environment, Public Health  Jun 21 2006 Mercy Medical Center has joined in the growing national trend of providing environmentally sustainable health care by becoming a Partner for Change in the Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E) program.

Mercy Incorporates Quiet Time Into Patient Routine  Sep 7 2006 To help foster a hospital-wide environment that promotes rest and relaxation, Mercy Medical Center has implemented “Quiet Time” in all inpatient departments, except for Behavioral and Intensive Care from 1-2 p.m. daily.

Mercy Wins Award for Breast Cancer Survivor Program  Jan 24 2007 Mercy Medical Center has received the Spirit of Excellence Award for Community from Modern Healthcare magazine for a program that helps breast cancer patients combat the most common side effects of breast cancer treatment.

MercyCare Community Physicians Opens Mt. Vernon Family Practice Clinic  Nov 1 2006 MercyCare Community Physicians (MCCP), a network of more than 70 health-care providers in Cedar Rapids and surrounding communities, announces the opening of a new family practice clinic, MercyCare Mount Vernon. The clinic, located at the corner of Highway 1 and Rachel Street.

 
©2004 Mercy Cedar Rapids, All Rights Reserved.  Contact Us  Privacy Policy  Disclaimer