This report originally appeared in the May 2009 issue of DOTmed Business News
Bone densitometry is beleaguered on many fronts despite a growing population in need of this life-saving and cost-saving technology. The trouble begins with osteoporosis, which is not only a silent killer but a patient one. An added problem is that individuals often don't see the necessity for screening as they do with more frightening or virulent conditions like cancer or heart disease.
"With osteoporosis there is no sense of urgency to get that test done," said Tony Orlando, President, Complete Medical Services, Shelby Township, MI. "Unlike an echo screen or nuclear stress test, bone density testing is put off in a lot of cases. So it is a point-of-care issue."
Of course, providers know the dangers. Family doctors as well as many specialists have adopted bone densitometry systems to screen and monitor patients.
"Roughly half the systems in the U.S. are in some sort of physician setting, half in radiology settings," said John Jenkins, Senior Director of Skeletal Health, Hologic. "Of the physician settings, the specialty groups like endocrinology and rheumatology are key markets. But the majority of the systems are in internal medicine practices."
Hologic's High Definition Instant
Vertebral Assessment (IVA HD) tool
allows the user to identify spine
fractures with one rapid,
low dose, single energy image.
It is easier for patients to be screened by their doctors than to go to a hospital for bone mineral density (BMD) testing. But the shift away from hospitals has created a problem for the technology since its use has migrated to practice settings that are most impacted by cuts in reimbursement. Medicare has progressively reduced payment for BMD testing in private practices and imaging centers to the point where many doctors just cannot support it anymore.
"Right now bone density [testing] is on the downswing because there tends to be a lack of interest in doing bone densities the lower the reimbursement goes. Some people are still getting into the business but it is not really growing," said David Denholtz, CEO, Integrity Medical Systems, Inc. and BoneDensitometers.com, Fort Myers, FL.
