Medicare payment cuts aggravated underuse of “DXA” osteoporosis test.

Researchers recommend that Congress extend Medicare payment relief for DXA tests in physician offices. Health Affairs reports that the DXA osteoporosis test is underused by Medicare beneficiaries, despite significant DXA benefit in fracture prevention. A new study published in Health Affairs/Care Span, found that after a decade of growth, DXA testing in Part B settings plateaued in 2007–09, resulting in 800,000 fewer tests than expected for Medicare beneficiaries. These “lost DXAs” might have prevented approximately 12,000 fractures. Testing declined in 2010, when the start of reimbursement relief under the Affordable Care Act was delayed. Increased DXA testing in the hospital outpatient setting failed to offset reduced DXA use in physician offices. Click Here for Full Article...