Osteoporosis Treatment and Postfracture Screenings for Medicare Beneficiaries

Based on results from a new study, researchers claim that many older patients with osteoporosis are not receiving proper evaluation or treatments after a fracture, especially older men (Clin Interv Aging. 2016;11:1111-1116). 

Inpatient and outpatient management and treatment of fractures can be costly; with the increased attention to quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries, researchers sought to investigate whether patients were receiving proper screening for osteoporosis and treatment after diagnosis of a fracture.

Mark J Oertel, MD, (University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS) and colleagues conducted a retrospective analysis of Medicare beneficiaries aged 67 years or older from a single institution (both inpatient and outpatient visits). Primary diagnosis of fractures of neck and trunk, upper limb, and lower limb were obtained in addition to current procedural terminology codes for fracture procedures. Patients who had been screened for osteoporosis with a bone mineral study or received osteoporosis treatment after their fracture were studied.

At the time of the analysis on December 1, 2014, 1219 out of 1375 patients were living and included in the analysis. Of these patients, 256 (21.0%) either received osteoporosis testing with bone mineral density or received treatment for osteoporosis. 

On sex breakdown, 208 of 820 (25.4%) females received proper evaluation or treatment of osteoporosis in comparison to 48 of 399 (12.0%) males. This is in comparison to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ national average of 19.1% for osteoporosis management in females.

The research team concluded that postfracture investigation and treatment for osteoporosis in Medicare beneficiaries is inadequate; if improved, future fractures could be avoided, and, subsequently, Medicare costs could be reduced. Future studies should determine the best strategy to ensure interventions occur. —Amanda Del Signore