Medicare will pay for a bone density test (DXA) as part of preventive screening every two years for women 65 or older. Medicare covers DXA for men only under certain circumstances.
If Medicare does not cover you because of your age, any one of the following risk factors puts you at higher risk for osteoporosis and fractures. With any one of these factors, your insurance company should cover a DXA.
If you find you do not qualify under any of these guidelines, use the American Bone Health Fracture Risk Calculator™ and determine your risk of fracture for yourself. You will be able to print a color graph that clearly shows your 10-year risk for a fracture and a list of questions to consider when you talk with your doctor.
A DXA scan — or bone mineral density (BMD or DEXA) test — is a simple test that allows health care professionals to determine the thickness of the bone. You lay on a table and don’t even have to remove your clothing. The machine evaluates the quantity of bones in the lower-spine (lumbar region) and upper area of the thigh bone which attaches to the pelvic region (the entire hip area and its subdivisions, the femoral neck and trochanter).
These locations in the body contain a large amount of trabecular bone, which is a lattice-like interior bone that tends to lose density as a person ages. Also, measurements gathered at these locations are easily duplicated, so health care providers can determine whether there are changes in bone density over time.
The scan helps doctors and other medical practitioners to diagnose osteoporosis, manage bone loss and prevent fractures.
To learn more about the DXA scan, visit American Bone Health.
University of South Florida
South Tampa Center
Department of Radiology
2 Tampa General Circle, STC 6102,
Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 259-8845
(Lunar)
Morsani Center Imaging
Morsani Building
13330 USF Laured Dr,
Tampa, FL 33612
(813) 396-2372
(Lunar)
Tampa General Hospital
1 Tampa General Cir
Tampa, FL 33606
Radiology Department, call (813) 844-7770.
To schedule an appointment, call (813) 844-8288.
(Hologic)
Moffitt McKinley Outpatient Center
10920 N. McKinley Drive
Tampa, FL 33612
Monday – Friday | 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
*Test sites will vary based on an individual’s insurance coverage. Please check with your insurance provider to determine your plan’s locations of coverage and benefits.
*Please check with your Primary Care Provider to ask for a referral to one of these specialists. You may need to determine your insurance coverage for specialist care.
A person’s risk for osteoporosis-related fractures rises as they age. American Bone Health offers tools to help people understand their bone health.
This Bone Health Quiz tests people under 45 years old on their bone health knowledge.
For people 45 years or older, the American Bone Health Fracture Risk Calculator™
can assess how likely you are to break a bone in the next 10 years, then consult with your physician or health care provider on how to prevent fractures and keep your bones strong. The validated tool contains a series of questions about genetics, medical history
and lifestyle habits.
As a nonpartisan, grassroots coalition, Healthy Bones Tampa Bay collaborates with a variety of health care agencies, local and state government entities and area nonprofits to improve bone health for all Greater Tampa Bay Area residents.
We believe residents in our region should have access to personalized, culturally-appropriate and actionable information on bone health and fracture prevention through diagnostic screening and testing, Community Talks and one-on-one meetings with medical professionals or health care educators.
We closely work with American Bone Health, a national nonprofit organization that offers resources to help people of all ages enhance their bone health and reduce their risk for fractures through peer-reviewed, science-based programs. This year, American Bone Health celebrates its 30th Anniversary helping people to build healthy bones for life.
American Bone Health Resources
