NCQA Releases White Paper on Improving Osteoporosis Care

WASHINGTON, July 14, 2022 (Newswire.com) - The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) today announced the release of a new white paper titled, "Improving Osteoporosis Care," with recommendations for improving osteoporosis screening and management. The white paper summarizes findings from a roundtable meeting convened by NCQA and funded by Amgen in January 2022 in which clinicians, osteoporosis researchers, and health plan leaders discussed how to improve osteoporosis care. 

By 2040, there will be approximately 80.8 million people ages 65 and older in the U.S. - more than twice as many as in 2000.¹ Osteoporosis is characterized by weakening of bone tissue and bone structure. It is the most common metabolic bone disease, affecting about 27% of women 65 years of age and older and about 6% of men 65 and older in the U.S.,² and its prevalence is expected to increase as the population ages. Screening and treatments for osteoporosis are often underused because of barriers such as: lack of access to screening, confusion about reimbursement policies, fragmented care, and lack of data on racial and ethnic differences in osteoporosis risk and treatment responses.

"Even though osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease, many Americans don't know they have it until they break a bone. That is simply too late. With a rapidly aging population, U.S. health care must do better to support older Americans," said NCQA President Margaret E. O'Kane. "With this white paper, NCQA is proud to share actionable recommendations for improving systems and policies, as well as screening and interventions, which can help reduce care gaps and improve the quality of osteoporosis care."

To improve osteoporosis prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, NCQA sought input from osteoporosis researchers, clinicians who care for patients with osteoporosis, and health plan leaders who direct osteoporosis performance measurement and quality improvement. Their perspectives during the roundtable meeting served as the foundation for a white paper about barriers and ideal care of people with osteoporosis. The solutions the white paper outlines include:

• Access to Screening and Treatment: Increasing access to DXA scans through grants and leveraging telemedicine for practices in rural communities. 
• Provider Support: Educating providers about osteoporosis-related topics such as: racial and ethnic differences in osteoporosis risk and treatment response, overcoming ageism biases in osteoporosis treatment guidelines, and how to obtain preauthorization for osteoporosis treatments.
• Shared Decision-Making: Providing regular patient visits to establish relationships, assess treatment tolerance and adherence, and change medications when needed.
• Multidisciplinary Team-Based Care: Implementing systems for osteoporosis management after a fracture, which include multidisciplinary teams of pharmacists, geriatricians, geriatric pharmacotherapists, and others.
• Incentives: Using performance and quality measures linked to reimbursement to ensure accountability in quality care.

"There is an urgent need to increase screening, diagnosis, and treatment to prevent fragility fractures. This NCQA white paper outlines needed solutions to overcome barriers to quality and equity in osteoporosis care for patients and their caregivers," said Amgen Medical Director, Michele McDermott, M.D.

NCQA acknowledges support from Amgen, which underwrote the Osteoporosis Roundtable and the cost of producing and distributing this report. Although Amgen did not participate in the Roundtable discussion or have a role in writing this report, it shares with NCQA the belief that the future of health care delivery requires greater collaboration among the many diverse health care stakeholders that advocate for improved population health. NCQA thanks Amgen and its staff for sponsoring this project. 

About NCQA

NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA Accredits and Certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA's Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS^®) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA's website (ncqa.org) contains information to help consumers, employers and others make informed health care choices. NCQA can also be found at Twitter @ncqa, on Facebook at facebook.com/NCQA.org/ and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/ncqa.

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Media Contact

Theresa Masnik

SHIFT Communications

[email protected]

References:

1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living. 2020 Profile of Older Americans. 2021. Accessed May 2022 at  https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/Aging%20and%20Disability%20in%20America/2020ProfileOlderAmericans.Final_.pdf 
2. Sarafrazi N, Wambogo EA, Shepherd JA. Osteoporosis or low bone mass in older adults: United States, 2017-2018. NCHS Data Brief. 2021;(405):1-8. PMID: 34029181.

Source: NCQA