Senator Collins Receives Congressional Bone Health Champion Award
The award recognizes Members of Congress who are leading the effort to prevent osteoporosis
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) was honored with the inaugural Congressional Bone Health Champion Award from the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF). Claire Gill, the CEO of BHOF, presented the award to Senator Collins for her leadership, advocacy, and commitment to protecting and improving the bone health of Americans.
“Osteoporosis is often called ‘the silent disease’ because bone loss usually occurs gradually over the years without symptoms. The public health risk cannot be overstated. Tens of millions of Americans either have osteoporosis or they are at an increased risk due to low bone mass,” said Senator Collins. “I have strongly supported early diagnosis and treatment efforts that are proven to dramatically reduce fracture rates. I am honored to receive this recognition from the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation, an organization that is dedicated to preventing osteoporosis and ensuring Americans with this disease receive the support they need.”
“We're extremely grateful to Senator Collins for her leadership in improving the bone health of all Americans,” said Claire Gill, CEO of the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation. “Bone health is crucial to your overall health. Congress needs to prioritize bone health on our nation's healthcare agenda, and pass legislation to improve bone health screening. We know it will have a dramatic impact on improving quality of life and reducing costly osteoporotic fractures.”
Bone health and osteoporosis have an enormous impact on Americans. 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 in their lifetime.
The BHOF, formerly the National Osteoporosis Foundation, is the leading health organization dedicated to preventing osteoporosis and broken bones; promoting strong bones for life; and reducing human suffering through programs of public and clinician awareness, education, advocacy, and research. Established in 1984, BHOF is the nation's largest health organization dedicated to osteoporosis and bone health.
The Congressional Bone Health Champion Award recognizes congressional leaders who have introduced legislation to improve access to bone health screening and helped raise public and policy maker awareness of bone health and its importance to overall health.
During National Osteoporosis Month in May 2021, Senator Collins joined Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) in introducing the Increasing Access to Osteoporosis Testing for Medicare Beneficiaries Act of 2021, bipartisan legislation that would increase access to osteoporosis screening, while lowering the costs and consequences resulting from a lack of diagnosis.
Click HERE to download a high-resolution photo of Senator Collins with Claire Gill, the CEO of the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation
