Managing osteoporosis is a key quality measure under the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) and an important part of delivering needed care to our older members.
Be sure to assess women 67 – 85 years of age who suffered a fracture and prescribe a medication to treat osteoporosis in the six months after the fracture. Also, recommend a bone mineral density (BMD) test.
There are several exclusions:
- Patients who had a BMD test during the 730 days (24 months) prior to the episode.
- Patients who had a claim/encounter for osteoporosis therapy during the 365 days (12 months) prior to the episode.
- Patients who received a dispensed prescription or had an active prescription to treat osteoporosis during the 12 months prior to the episode.
Helpful tips to close gaps in care:
- Ask all female patients 67 – 85 years of age if they have had a fracture since their last visit.
- Consider writing a prescription for a BMD test at time of fracture.
- If patients are unable or unwilling to have a BMD test, prescribe osteoporosis medications if appropriate.
- Place a reminder in the patient’s chart for a BMD test.
- Use telehealth visits to review, document, and prescribe medication, when appropriate.
- Educate patients on safety and fall prevention.
By following these recommendations, you can help improve patient health outcomes.
