SR251: SR251 Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month; recognize May 2025

25 LC 112 2981 Senate Resolution 251 By: Senators Anderson of the 43rd, Wicks of the 34th, Davenport of the 17th, James of the 28th, Jackson of the 41st and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing May 2025 as Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention M onth; and for other1 purposes.2 WHEREAS, an estimated 54 million Americans have osteoporosis or low bone mass, and3 studies suggest that approximately 1 in 2 women and up to 1 in 4 men age 50 and older will4 break a bone due to osteoporosis; and5 WHEREAS, around 1.8 million Medicare beneficiaries suffer appro ximately 2.1 million6 osteoporosis-related fractures annually, and osteoporosis-relat ed bone fractures are7 responsible for more hospitalizations than heart attacks, strokes, or breast cancer; and8 WHEREAS, the total annual cost for osteoporosis-related fractur es among Medicare9 beneficiaries was $57 billion in 2018, and that number is expec ted to grow to over $9510 billion in 2040 without reforms as the population ages; and11 WHEREAS, in Georgia, over 48,000 Medicare beneficiaries suffere d more than 56,40012 osteoporosis-related fractures in 2016; and13 S. R. 251 - 1 - 25 LC 112 2981 WHEREAS, an estimated 7,000 Georgians on Medicare suffered not only an initial fracture14 but also a subsequent fracture, resulting in estimated costs of over $131 million; and15 WHEREAS, osteoporosis and the broken bones it can cause are not part of normal aging.16 Building strong bones begins in childhood and is essential to the prevention of osteoporosis;17 care for our bones is important throughout our lives, but we re ach our peak bone mass by18 early adulthood; and 19 WHEREAS, optimum bone health and prevention of osteoporosis can be maximized by a20 balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening21 exercise, and a healthy lifestyle with no smoking or excessive alcohol intake; and22 WHEREAS, osteoporosis is often called a silent disease because one cannot feel bones23 weakening. Breaking a bone is often the first sign of osteoporo sis. Timely bone health24 screening, diagnosis, and treatment can help prevent fractures leading to hospitalization and25 nursing home stays; and26 WHEREAS, cost effective post-fracture care that improves care c oordination has been27 demonstrated to reduce the number of subsequent or repeat fract ures yet is not widely28 available or properly incentivized by Medicare; and29 WHEREAS, it is crucial that we raise awareness about bone health and osteoporosis among30 the public, health professionals, and policy makers.31 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body32 recognize May 2025 as Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month.33 S. R. 251 - 2 - 25 LC 112 2981 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed34 to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the35 press.36 S. R. 251 - 3 -