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There are multiple technologies for non-invasive measurement of bone content which are available.  At the time of this writing they included dual energy X-Ray absorptiometry (DEXA), quantitative computed tomography (QCT), ultrasound densitometry, single energy x-ray absorptiometry (SEXA), quantitative ultrasound (QUS), radiographic absorptiometry or photodensitometry, single-photon absorptiometry (SPA), and dual-photon absorptiometry (DPA).

Note that the above list may not be comprehensive as the technology is constantly changing.  SPA and DPA are now rarely used and may be considered obsolete.  The following technologies are most commonly used:

A.  Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA)

DEXA measures bone mineral content and bone mineral density.  It is a two-dimensional projection system in which an X-ray tube source, rather than a radioisotope, is used as a photon source, providing for more accurate and precise readings.  DEXA is used to measure bone mineral in both the peripheral appendicular skeleton and in axial skeletal sites, e.g., wrists, hip, spine, or total skeleton.

B.  Quantitative Computed Tomography (QCT)

QCT depends on the differential absorption of ionizing radiation by calcified tissue and is used for central measurements only.  Compared to DEXA, QCT is less readily available and associated with relatively high radiation exposure and relatively high costs.

C.  Ultrasound Densitometry

Ultrasound densitometry is a technique for measuring BMD at peripheral sites, typically the heel, but also the tibia and phalanges.  Compared to osteoporotic bone, normal bone demonstrates higher attenuation of the ultrasound wave, and is associated with a greater velocity of the wave passing through bone.  Ultrasound densitometry has no radiation exposure, and machines may be purchased for use in an office setting.

Bone density measurements are covered once per lifetime for general screening for osteoporosis for women beginning at age 50 as part of the Healthy You! Wellness benefit.  Measurements for screening are limited to the hips or spine using the DEXA technique.

Risk Assessment

The decision to perform bone density assessment should be based on an individual's fracture risk profile and skeletal health assessment.  Bone mineral density (BMD) measurement is not indicated unless the results will influence treatment decisions.

Initial, Repeat and Serial BMD

A. An initial measurement of BMD at the hip or spine may be considered medically necessary to assess fracture risk and the need for pharmacologic therapy in both women and men who are considered at risk for osteoporosis.  Therefore, BMD testing may be considered medically necessary for the following conditions:

1. Women age 65 and older, regardless of risk factors
2. Men age 70 and older, regardless of risk factors
3. Younger postmenopausal women with one or more risk factors for osteoporosis*
4. Men age 50-70, where there is concern based on their risk factors*
5. Adults with a condition or taking a medication listed below associated with low bone mass or bone loss*

*Risk factors included in the WHO Fracture Risk Assessment Model (FRAX) are:

• Low body mass index
• Parental history of hip fracture
• Previous fragility fracture in adult life (i.e., occurring spontaneously, or a fracture arising from trauma which, in a healthy individual, would not have resulted in a fracture)
• Currently smoking or alcohol 3 or more units/day, where an unit is equivalent to a standard glass of beer (285ml), a singer measure of spirits (30ml), a medium sized glass of wine (120ml), or 1 measure of an aperitif (60ml)
• A disorder strongly associated with osteoporosis.  These include rheumatoid arthritis, type I (insulin dependent) diabetes, osteogenesis imperfecta in adults, untreated long-standing hyperthyroidism, hypogonadism, or premature menopause (<45 years), chronic malnutrition or malabsoprtion, or chronic liver disease
• Current exposure to oral glucocorticoids, or the patient has been exposed to oral glucocorticoids for more than 3 months at a dose of prednisolone of 5 mg daily or more (or equivalent doses of other glucocorticoids)

B.  Repeat measurements for individuals with risk factors who previously tested normal may be considered medically necessary at an interval not more than every 5 years.

C.  Serial measurements to monitor treatment response for individuals with risk factors may be considered medically necessary not more frequent than every 3 years when the information will affect treatment decisions such as duration of therapy.

D. Serial measurements to monitor bone density for individuals on aromatase inhibitors may be considered medically necessary not more frequent than every 2-3 years when the information will affect treatment decisions. Currently, three aromatase inhibitors are approved by the FDA:  letrozole (Femara®), anastrazole (Arimidex®), and exemestane (Aromasin®).

The coverage guidelines outlined in the Medical Policy Manual should not be used in lieu of the Member's specific benefit plan language.

2/1997: Expanded clinical indications approved by MPAC. Limited to DEXA method only, once every 12 months.

6/1999: Interim policy revision: Included use of quantitative ultrasound (QUS) as an approved method

8/1999: Addition of QUS approved by MPAC

11/2000: Reviewed by MPAC; no changes

5/21/2001: Code Reference section revised; non-covered codes table added

10/15/2001: Verbiage revised under "policy" section; "Reimbursement is not provided for SPA, DPA or QCT bone densitometry techniques" to "SPA, DPA and QCT bone densitometry techniques are considered investigational and not eligible for coverage."

2/14/2002: Investigational definition added

4/18/2002: Type of Service and Place of Service deleted

6/12/2002: ICD-9 diagnosis codes 493 and 579 4th/5th digit added

3/2003: Reviewed by MPAC, frequency of all current indications changed to every 2 years except long term glucocortocoid therapy where bone density substantiates need for glucocorticoid reduction remains every 12 months, Sources updated

6/12/2003: Code Reference section updated

8/7/2003: Code Reference section updated, CPT code range 76075-76076 listed separately, fourth and fifth digit added as appropriate to 242.9, 256.3, and 556, ICD-9 diagnosis code ranges listed separately 493.00-493.92, 555.0-555.9, 579.0-579.9, 756.5-756.59, ICD-9 diagnosis codes 491.20 and 491.21 complete descriptions added

8/14/2003: CPT code 76071 added, ICD-9 diagnosis codes 227.3, V07.4 added

7/14/2004: Code Reference section updated, ICD-9 diagnosis code 491.20, 491.21, 493.00, 493.01, 493.02, 493.10, 493.11, 493.12, 493.20, 493.21, 493.22, 493.90, 493.91, 493.92, 496, 555.0, 555.1, 555.2, 555.9, 556.0, 556.1, 556.2, 556.3, 556.4, 556.5, 556.6. 556.8, 556.9, 558.9, 564.2, 571.49, 714.0 deleted

9/27/2004: Under Policy “chronic” renal failure specified, ICD-9 diagnosis code 491.20, 491.21, 493.00, 493.01, 493.02, 493.10, 493.11, 493.12, 493.20, 493.21, 493.22, 493.90, 493.91, 493.92, 496, 555.0, 555.1, 555.2, 555.9, 556.0, 556.1, 556.2, 556.3, 556.4, 556.5, 556.6, 556.8, 556.9, 558.9, 564.2, 571.49, 714.0 added to covered codes with notation “Bone density measurement, using either the QUS or DEXA technology is considered medically necessary and eligible for coverage once every 12 months for long term glucocorticoid therapy where bone density substantiates a need for glucocorticoid reduction in conditions such as listed above but not limited to the condition above. Note: V58.65 Long-term (current) use of steroids,” The examples of conditions listed are covered in addition to other chronic illnesses requiring the long term (current) use of glucocorticoid. Note “but not limited to” - coding has been listed in the Code Reference section for the examples listed in the Policy section only, ICD-9 diagnosis code 242.00, 242.01, 242.10, 242.11, 242.20, 242.21, 242.30, 242.31, 242.40, 242.41, 242.80, 242.81, 756.10, 756.9 added to covered codes, ICD-9 diagnosis code 252.0 5th digit added “252.01,” ICD-9 diagnosis code 626.0 note added “Amenorrhea of six month's duration associated with extensive exercise and/or anorexia nervosa (ICD-9 diagnosis code 307.1)

3/24/2005: CPT code 76077 with effective date of 1/1/2005 added

8/26/2005: CPT code 76077 deleted

11/8/2005:  Code Reference section updated, 4^th digit added to ICD9 diagnosis code 585.1-585.9: description revised

03/10/2006: Coding updated. HCPCS 2006 revisions added to policy

09/13/2006:  Coding updated.  ICD9 2006 revisions added to policy

09/25/2006: Policy clarified and partially rewritten

10/25/2006: Code reference section updated. CPT code 76077 added to covered table. HCPC code G0130 added to non-covered table

12/21/2006: Policy clarified. Added "including, but not limited to, women 60 years of age or older" to women deficient in estrogen following menopause

12/28/2006: Code Reference section updated per the 2007 CPT/HCPCS revisions

12/17/2007: Coding updated.CPT/HCPCS 2008 revisions added to policy

9/17/2008: Annual ICD-9 updates effective 10-1-2008 applied

9/28/2009: Code reference section updated. New ICD-9 diagnosis code 569.71 added to covered table. CPT codes 76075 and 76076 deleted from covered table due to codes were deleted as of 12-31-2006. HCPC code Q9952 deleted from covered table due to code was deleted as of 12-31-2007.

12/22/2009: Title revised to include “Mineral.” Description Section updated to add Quantitative Computed Tomography (QCT) and Ultrasound Densitometry, removed Quantitative Ultrasound.  Policy Statement Section totally revised to include:  screening for osteoporosis covered once for women at age 50 as part of Healthy You! Wellness benefit, changed criteria of when initial measurements may be considered medically necessary, added World Health Organization (WHO) Risk Assessment Model; changed criteria for repeat measurements with specific interval guidelines; added criteria for serial measurements to monitor treatment response with specific interval guidelines.Code reference section updated.  CPT codes 76499, 77078, 77079 and 77082 were added to covered table.  CPT Codes 77083, 78350 and 78351 were moved from non-covered to covered table. Removed deleted code Q9952 from the covered table. ICD-9 diagnosis code range 250.01-250.93, 252.00, 252.02, 252.08, 253.1, 263.8, 263.9, 307.1, 307.51, 493.81, 493.82, 571.0-571.9 code range, 714.1-714.9 code range, 733.10-733.19 code range, V82.81 and V85.0 added to covered table. ICD-9 diagnosis codes V86.0 and V86.1 deleted from covered table. Non-covered table deleted. 

09/07/2010:  Added policy statement regarding aromatase inhibitors to indicate that serial measurements to monitor bone density for individuals on aromatase inhibitors may be considered medically necessary not more frequent than every 2-3 years when the information will affect treatment decisions. 

11/08/2010: Added ICD-9 code V07.52 to the Covered Codes table.

09/14/2011:  Added the following verbiage to the Policy Exceptions section:  State Health Plan (State and School Employees):  Bone density studies are covered for women once every 2 years beginning at age 60 under the Plan's wellness benefits. 

03/27/2012:  Policy reviewed; no changes.

TEC Evaluations 1987: p. 307; 1993: Tab 2

Hayes Medical Technology Directory

Medicare Program Memorandum Transmittal No. AB-98-32

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations: Osteoporosis Screening

Task Force Urges Routine Osteoporsis Screening for Women 65 and Older to Identify Those at Risk for Fracture, Press Release Date: September 16, 2002 (added 3/2003)

Heidi D. Nelson, M.D., M.P.H., Mark Helfand, M.D., M.P.H., Steven H. Woolf, M.D., M.P.H., Janet D. Allan, P.H.D., R.N., Screening for Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations: Screening for Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women

Blue Cross Blue Shield Association policy # 6.01.01 

Aromatase inhibitors Prescribing Information 

The code(s) listed below are ONLY covered if the procedure is performed according to the "Policy" section of this document. 

Covered Codes