PRINTER'S NO. 1661
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
298
Session of
2022
INTRODUCED BY COLLETT, PHILLIPS-HILL, SANTARSIERO, MARTIN,
MENSCH, BARTOLOTTA, FONTANA, KANE, CAPPELLETTI, STREET,
KEARNEY, COSTA, STEFANO AND COMITTA, MAY 23, 2022
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, MAY 23, 2022
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of May 2022 as "Osteoporosis Awareness and
Prevention Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, An estimated 54 million Americans have osteoporosis
or low bone mass; and
WHEREAS, Studies suggest that approximately one in two women
and up to one in four men who are 50 years of age or older will
break a bone due to osteoporosis; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 1.8 million Medicare beneficiaries
suffer nearly 2.1 million osteoporotic fractures per year,
and
these fractures are responsible for more hospitalizations than
heart attacks, strokes or breast cancer; and
WHEREAS, The total annual cost for osteoporotic fractures
among Medicare beneficiaries was $57 billion in 2018 and is
expected to grow, as the population ages, to more than $95
billion in 2040; and
WHEREAS, In Pennsylvania, 82,000 Medicare beneficiaries
suffered more than 97,000 osteoporotic fractures in 2016; and
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
WHEREAS, An estimated 10,200 Pennsylvanians on Medicare
suffered not only an initial fracture, but also a subsequent
fracture resulting in estimated costs of more than $228.4
million; and
WHEREAS, Building strong bones begins in childhood, and the
peak of bone mass occurs by early adulthood; and
WHEREAS, Osteoporosis and the broken bones it can cause are
not part of normal aging, and care for the prevention of
osteoporosis is important throughout our lifetime; and
WHEREAS, Optimum bone health and prevention of osteoporosis
can be maximized by a balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin
D, weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercise and a
healthy lifestyle with no smoking or excessive alcohol intake;
and
WHEREAS, Osteoporosis is often called a silent disease
because weakening bones may not be obvious, and breaking a bone
is often the first sign of osteoporosis; and
WHEREAS, Timely bone health screening, diagnosis and
treatment can help prevent fractures leading to hospitalization
and nursing home stays; and
WHEREAS, Cost-effective post-fracture care and improved care
coordination has been demonstrated to reduce the number of
subsequent or recurrent fractures, yet these programs are not
widely available or properly incentivized by Medicare; and
WHEREAS, It is crucial that awareness of bone health and
osteoporosis is increased among the public, health professionals
and policymakers; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of May 2022 as
"Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month" in Pennsylvania;
and be it further
20220SR0298PN1661 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
RESOLVED, That the Senate encourage the observation of the
ideals, goals and activities of beneficial health programs which
promote good bone health throughout an individual's lifetime and
the prevention of osteoporosis.
20220SR0298PN1661 - 3 -
1
2
3
4