Early diagnosis is important since osteoporosis can develop undetected for years, even decades.
Too often the condition is discovered only after a fracture occurs. Half of all women 50 and older can expect a osteoporosis-related bone fracture in their lifetimes. The system uses a standard x-ray image of the hand which is then scanned through special software to provide a BMD measurement. That includes the x-ray, analysis and radiology fee. Medicare and Medicaid patients need a physician's referral for the test.