Men and Osteoporosis:
Children and Osteoporosis

While, on average, men lose only half as much bone with aging as women and have one third as many osteoporotic fractures, they are clearly at risk for both osteoporosis and fractures.

Men are especially at risk if they are over 70 years of age, use oral steroid medications, are being treated for prostate cancer with anti-androgen medications such as lupron, have testicular hypofunction, hyperparathyroidism, or have had a low trauma fracture (i.e. falling from standing height).

Most commercial carriers–but not all– cover bone density testing for men with risk factors for osteoporosis.

However, Medicare covers bone density testing for men only if:

• they already have vertebral fractures
  or are receiving long term oral steroid medications such as prednisone
• or have primary hyperparathyroidism
• or if they are already on medications to treat or prevent osteoporosis.

At present, there are bills in both the US Senate (Senate Bill S. 419) and House (House Bill HR. 2151) to allow screening bone density testing for men over seventy years of age.

If you are an appropriate candidate for bone density testing, whether you meet the criteria listed above or not, you will need to sign a waiver signifying your understanding of the possible lack of coverage.

If your test is not covered, the charge will become your responsibility. To that end, please inquire about pricing at the time of your scan. You may be asked to supply credit card information at the time of service.

It some cases, it may be advisable for children to have bone density testing.  The interpretation of bone density tests in children is complicated by growth rates, size and maturity. For this reason, the only facility in Colorado is the Children’s Hospital. To contact them for bone density testing, please call:303-864-5650