Washington, D.C. (WVDN) – Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) and Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) reintroduced the Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly (SAFE) Act. The SAFE Act will permit occupational and physical therapists to administer falls risks assessments for seniors as part of their Medicare Annual Wellness benefit. The bill will also require Health and Human Services to submit a report to Congress on the number of falls experienced by seniors and the number of seniors that received treatment for pain or injury related to a fall each year.
“Seniors should have sufficient resources available to protect themselves as they age. The SAFE Act would provide physical and occupational therapists the ability to complete falls risks assessments for seniors as part of their Medicare Annual Wellness benefit. With this additional data, there will be more accountability and transparency on how we can protect those who are at risk of falling. It’s no secret the U.S. population is aging, and it’s important to have enough information as seniors receive treatment for injuries related to a fall so the health care system can best care for them,” said Congresswoman Miller.
“Our elders deserve the best care, period,” said Congresswoman Stansbury. “It is crucial to help them and their families maintain a good quality of life. That’s why I am proudly co-leading the bipartisan SAFE Act, empowering occupational therapists to assess fall risks for seniors and implement vital interventions to reduce falls—the leading cause of injury and death among our elders. Together, we will care for them with the dignity and respect they deserve.”
“The American Physical Therapy Association applauds Rep. Miller’s and Rep. Stansbury’s leadership on this important bipartisan legislation that addresses falls and falls prevention for Medicare beneficiaries,” said APTA President Kyle Covington, PT, DPT, PhD, “APTA’s report titled the ‘Economic Value of Physical Therapy in the U.S.,” shows the cost-effectiveness of physical therapist services for falls prevention and emphasizes the need for improved access to them. By reducing the risk of falls this legislation will improve patients’ lives and provide cost-savings to the Medicare program.”
“We are grateful to Congresswomen Miller and Stansbury for leading on this issue. Falls are the number one cause of injuries and death for Americans over 65. The SAFE Act is an essential investment in the health and well-being of our aging population,” said Nikesh Patel, PT, Executive Director of APTQI. “By incorporating physical and occupational therapy services into Medicare wellness visits, we can provide older Americans with the preventative care they need to live safely and independently, while also mitigating opioid use and dependence.”
“We greatly appreciate the introduction of this crucial legislation. Occupational therapy practitioners assess the physical, behavioral and environmental factors that contribute to falls, and provide interventions that have been shown to reduce fall and injury risk. By adding falls prevention services provided by an occupational therapy practitioner to both the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit and initial preventative medical exam, this bill will reduce the number of emergency room visits, hospitalizations and deaths that occur every year because of falls,” said Alyson Stover, MOT, JD, OTR/L, BC, President of the American Occupational Therapy Association.
“We want to thank Congresswoman Miller for introducing the SAFE Act to include an enhanced falls risk assessments as part of the annual Medicare Wellness Visits,” said Kevin Yingling, RPh MD, President and CEO of Marshall Health Network. “The professionals at the Marshall Health Network Balance Center daily treat patients with balance disorders, and we believe the addition of these proactive screenings can prevent injuries and even fatalities for those who are 65 and older.”
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