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.