Pennsylvania HR 435: A Resolution recognizing the month of May 2026 as "Osteoporosis Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2995
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 435
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY SHUSTERMAN, KOSIEROWSKI, VENKAT, HILL-EVANS,
CONKLIN, GUZMAN, KHAN, McNEILL, GUENST, SANCHEZ, RIVERA,
K. HARRIS, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, GALLAGHER, PASHINSKI, MADDEN AND
COOPER, MARCH 12, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, MARCH 12, 2026
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of May 2026 as "Osteoporosis Awareness
Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Osteoporosis is a disease that makes bones thinner,
less dense, more fragile and more likely to fracture; and
WHEREAS, An estimated 54 million Americans have osteoporosis
or low bone mass; and
WHEREAS, In 2020, more than 2.7 million Pennsylvanians 50
years of age and older had osteoporosis or were at risk for
developing osteoporosis because of low bone density; 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
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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
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 prevention of osteoporosis is
important throughout an individual's lifetime; and
WHEREAS, Optimum bone health and prevention of osteoporosis
can be supported 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, The United States Preventive Services Task Force
recommends screening for osteoporosis to prevent osteoporotic
fractures in women 65 years of age or older and in
postmenopausal women younger than 65 years of age who are
determined to have an increased risk; and
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WHEREAS, Research finds that only 7% of Pennsylvania Medicare
beneficiaries are tested for osteoporosis within six months of a
fracture; 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 House of Representatives recognize the
month of May 2026 as "Osteoporosis Awareness Month" in
Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage the
observation of the ideals, goals and activities of beneficial
health programs that promote good bone health throughout an
individual's lifetime and the prevention of osteoporosis.
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