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P1NP and CTX
Hello,
I have never had P1NP and CTX tests done before. I have seen an Endo chronologist, and she did not order these. I would like to see if my Primary care would order these so that I could have a baseline along with the Bone Density Tests. I am trying to do as much as I can without medication as of yet. Let me know if anyone has had success with their Primary Care Doctors.
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@prarysky they do not know how to read the tests. I put mine in Grok and it explains it.
I had CTX and P1NP run before starting any treatment, but I had to ask for these from my DR.
After my recent DEXA my DR suggested running both again as I have been on BHRT almost a year.
My results are positive showing that my bone loss has slowed.
@babs10 If what your nurse told you is true about Medicare, that is lousy news. It also lends support to those doctors who do not believe in its value. Thank you for the heads-up. We seldom hear about Medicare coverage changes until payment for a particular service is denied.
@njx58 I'm not sure but the bone marker lab tests are probably covered by Medicare Part B rather than Part D.
@dvargo Thank you for this idea! I'd bet a lot of people are relying on AI to help them figure lab tests a bit better.
This is a good overview of these bone marker tests by Margaret Martin, a physical therapist who offers exercises and advice about good bone health:
https://melioguide.com/osteoporosis-prevention/osteoporosis-bone-markers/
In addition, Google's AI provides some basic information when asked about Medicare coverage for CTX. This is only AI and not definitive, but it suggests that we Medicare patients will need for our doctor to justify the use of CTX. Bummer....that is precisely the kind of thing doctors do not want to spend time doing.
"Medicare Coverage for CTX Bone Markers
General Coverage Information
Medicare coverage for collagen crosslink tests (CTX bone markers) is available under specific conditions. The coverage is primarily aimed at:
Younger beneficiaries
Individuals at risk for osteoporosis
Limitations on Coverage
However, there are important limitations to consider:
Coverage is generally not applicable to patients over the age of 65.
Many older patients may have already been stabilized by treatment, making further testing unnecessary."
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1 Reaction@prarysky Yes. I meant that how would Medicare know if you're taking medication for osteoporosis in order to decide whether or not to cover the CTX blood test? I don't see how they would. The blood tests are going to be accompanied by a doctor's prescription and diagnosis. That is all the lab has to go on. Assuming the doctor has coded it correctly, I don't see any issue with Medicare covering the test.
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2 Reactions@prarysky You are correct. It is covered by Part B if medically necessary.
@njx58 I don't know. I was reporting what a nurse told the group during an OsteoBoston webinar on Tuesday night.
@prarysky Yes, that would be lousy news. To clarify, the nurse wasn't MY nurse. She was a nurse participating in a discussion on OsteoBoston.