Preventing Falls and Preserving Care: APTQI Members Urge Congressional Action

This week, APTQI members traveled to Washington to meet with lawmakers and their staff to advocate for policies that will help protect patient access to physical therapy and strengthen preventive care programs for older adults.

During these discussions, APTQI members highlighted some key issues impacting the profession including:

Protecting Medicare Stability

Congress must address the ongoing cycle of Medicare payment cuts that are jeopardizing patient access to high-quality healthcare – including physical therapy services. Providers face significant financial strain from years of rate reductions, making it harder to maintain care delivery, especially in rural and underserved areas. By stabilizing reimbursement and supporting preventive measures, Congress can help ensure older Americans receive the care they need to maintain independence and avoid costly hospitalizations.

Expanding Falls Prevention Measures

With falls remaining the leading cause of injury and injury-related deaths among older adults, it is essential for our lawmakers to invest in evidence-based falls prevention programs to reduce risk, improve outcomes, and lower long-term healthcare costs. Thankfully, the bipartisan Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly (SAFE) Act (S. 2612 & H.R. 1171) is currently being considered in both chambers to ensure Medicare beneficiaries can access falls risk assessments by the falls prevention experts – physical and occupational therapists.

While on Capitol Hill this week, APTQI members met with the offices of Senators Jim Banks (IN), Bill Cassidy (LA), John Cornyn (TX), Lindsey Graham (SC), Rick Scott (FL), Raphael Warnock (GA), and Todd Young (IN) and Representatives Morgan Griffith (VA-09) and Greg Steube (FL-17) as well as staff from the House Ways & Means Committee, House Budget Committee, and Senate Aging Committee.

Thank you to CORA Physical Therapy, Cypress Health Partners, First Settlement Physical Therapy, and FOX Rehabilitation for participating in these visits. APTQI and our members will continue working to safeguard access to physical therapy and champion innovative solutions that prioritize patient health and long-term sustainability for providers.