[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 13, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E154]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             MEDICARE OSTEOPOROSIS MEASUREMENT ACT OF 2001

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                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 13, 2001

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the Medicare 
Osteoporosis Measurement Act of 2001. This Act will extend bone density 
screening to men--as opposed to just women--being treated for prostate 
cancer, as well as groups of Medicare-eligible individuals clinically 
at risk for osteoporosis. Testosterone, the male sex hormone, is a 
major factor in stimulating the growth of prostate cancer. Testosterone 
suppression therapy is a well respected and often used treatment to 
control advanced prostate cancer. Unfortunately, the treatment also 
predisposes these men to osteoporosis.
  Although osteoporosis is commonly thought of as a disease that 
affects only women, about one third of all men will suffer an 
osteoporotic fracture in their lifetime. These men often do not know 
that they are at risk until a bone fracture occurs because external 
symptoms are rarely present. This could be prevented with a simple and 
cost-effective test. The cost of bone density screening is less than 
$200 and would be an effective way to decrease the $14 billion spent 
each year on direct medical costs for osteoporosis and related 
fractures.
  Osteoporosis affects more than five million men in the U.S. Early 
detection is a key component in containing the human and economic cost 
of this disease. Please join me in supporting this legislation to bring 
parity to the Medicare program and help combat this preventable 
disease.

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