Continuous Improvement and the Expansion of Quality ... - NCQA

T H E S TAT E o f H E A l T H C A R E Q U A l I T y 2 0 1 1 • H E D I S M E A S U R E S o f C A R E
oSTEoPoRoSIS TESTING IN olDER WoMEN
osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone
tissue, leading to bone fragility and an increased susceptibility to fractures. It mostly affects
elderly women. Disease development is gradual, progressing without symptoms until a lowenergy
fall or minor activity fractures a bone. 1 The Osteoporosis Testing in Older Women
measure assesses whether women over the age of 65 reported receiving a bone density test.
• According to the National osteoporosis
foundation, about 12 million Americans
have osteoporosis and approximately 52.4
million over the age of 50 have low bone
density—which puts them at increased
risk for developing the disease. About 80
percent of those affected are women. 2
• one in two women and one in four men
over 50 will have an osteoporosis-related
fracture in their lifetime, most commonly of
the hip, wrist or spine. 1,2
the Case for Improvement
• In 2008, the annual direct medical costs
of osteoporosis and fractures ranged from
$17 billion to $22 billion. by 2025, annual
fractures and costs are expected to rise by
almost 50 percent. The most rapid growth
is estimated for people 65–74 years of
age. 3,4
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• osteoporosis is responsible for more than
1.5 million fractures each year, and results
in 500,000 hospital admissions, 800,000
emergency room visits, 2.6 million
physician visits and 180,000 nursing home
admissions annually. 4,5
• Despite being a covered service under
Medicare with no out-of-pocket costs, bone
density tests are underutilized by elderly,
at-risk populations. In 2005 only an
estimated 30 percent of Medicare women
enrollees received a bone density test. 5
HEdIs Measure definition
This survey based measure assesses the
percentage of Medicare women 65 years
of age and older who report ever having
received a bone density test to check for
osteoporosis.
M E A S U R E S T A R G E T E D A T o l D E R A D U l T S