Georgia General Assembly · Full text

SR 251: Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month; recognize May 2025

Enrolled version, the latest LegiScan holds · Last action February 26, 2025 · Passed

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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 Month; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, an estimated 54 million Americans have osteoporosis or low bone mass, and studies suggest that approximately 1 in 2 women and up to 1 in 4 men age 50 and older will break a bone due to osteoporosis; and

WHEREAS, around 1.8 million Medicare beneficiaries suffer approximately 2.1 million osteoporosis-related fractures annually, and osteoporosis-related bone fractures are responsible for more hospitalizations than heart attacks, strokes, or breast cancer; and

WHEREAS, the total annual cost for osteoporosis-related fractures among Medicare beneficiaries was $57 billion in 2018, and that number is expected to grow to over $95 billion in 2040 without reforms as the population ages; and

WHEREAS, in Georgia, over 48,000 Medicare beneficiaries suffered more than 56,400 osteoporosis-related fractures in 2016; and

WHEREAS, an estimated 7,000 Georgians on Medicare suffered not only an initial fracture but also a subsequent fracture, resulting in estimated costs of over $131 million; and

WHEREAS, osteoporosis and the broken bones it can cause are not part of normal aging. Building strong bones begins in childhood and is essential to the prevention of osteoporosis; care for our bones is important throughout our lives, but we reach our peak bone mass by early adulthood; 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 one cannot feel bones weakening. Breaking a bone is often the first sign of osteoporosis. 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 that improves care coordination has been demonstrated to reduce the number of subsequent or repeat fractures yet is not widely available or properly incentivized by Medicare; and

WHEREAS, it is crucial that we raise awareness about bone health and osteoporosis among the public, health professionals, and policy makers.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize May 2025 as Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the press.