Whereas, Osteoporosis is a major public health threat for 44 million Americans, 68 percent of whom are women; and

Whereas, In 2002, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended routine osteoporosis screening for all women aged 65 years or older, yet, fewer than one in ten received a Medicare-reimbursed bone density test in 2001; and, 

Whereas, One in two women and one in four men over the age 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in her/his remaining lifetime; and,

Whereas, Over 1.5 million Michigan residents over the age of 50 were estimated to have osteoporosis or low bone mass in 2002, and prevalence is expected to grow 26 percent to 1.9 million by 2020; and,

Whereas, Height loss and back pain may be caused by spine fractures, and a postmenopausal woman with a spine fracture has a one in five chance of another spine fracture within one year; and,

Whereas, Osteoporosis is estimated to cause over 40,000 fractures in Michigan in 2005, at a cost of over $439 million; and, 

Whereas, 43 percent of those hospitalized with osteoporotic fractures in Michigan are discharged to long-term care facilities with costs estimated to be $150 million in 2005, with the State Medicaid program paying about half, or $75 million; and,

Whereas, The number of osteoporotic fractures in Michigan is projected to grow 28 percent to over 52,000 in 2025, at a cost of over $560 million; and,

Whereas, The State of Michigan funds a successful statewide osteoporosis program that educated Michigan citizens and health professionals that osteoporosis is a preventable and treatable disease, and fast intervention is needed to prevent fractures, particularly in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis; and,

Whereas, During this month, the Michigan Department of Community Health, the Alliance for Better Bone Health, and the Michigan Public Health Institute will encourage Michigan residents to find out how they can maximize osteoporosis management by staying active, knowing their risk, and understanding treatment options that help prevent factures; and now therefore be it,

Resolved, That I, Jennifer M. Granholm, Governor of the State of Michigan, do hereby proclaim May 2005, as Osteoporosis Month in Michigan.  I encourage all Michigan residents to learn how to prevent osteoporosis, and enable those at risk to obtain the advantage of fast fracture protection by managing osteoporosis and maintaining bone health.