As Bipartisan Support for SAFE Act Grows, Physical Therapy Leaders Urge Lawmakers to Pass Medicare Falls Prevention Measures

The Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly (SAFE) Act would reduce falls for America’s aging population and cut Medicare spending

Washington, D.C.  – Following Congress’s return from August recess, the Alliance for Physical Therapy Quality and Innovation (APTQI)—representing the nation’s leading physical therapy provider companies and vendors—applauds the growing support for the bipartisan Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly (SAFE) Act (S. 2612/H.R. 1171) targeting falls prevention for Medicare beneficiaries.

Introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year by Representatives Carol Miller (R-WV-01) and Melanie Stansbury (D-NM-01) and recently introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Jim Justice (R-WV), the SAFE Act has gained momentum with over 30 bipartisan co-sponsors in the House. The SAFE Act would amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to include initial preventive physical exams in addition to physical and occupational therapy in annual wellness visits, specifically targeting falls prevention to reduce falls-related injuries and costs.

Nikesh Patel, PT, Executive Director of APTQI, commended the bill’s momentum while encouraging greater support from legislators, stating, “APTQI is grateful to the many lawmakers who have recognized the value of physical therapy to protect the health and well-being of our aging population. By integrating physical and occupational therapy services into annual Medicare visits, we can provide seniors with the proactive, preventative care they need to live safely and independently. I encourage other House and Senate leaders to follow suit in supporting the SAFE Act and paving the way for fewer falls and lower Medicare costs.”

Data show that falls prevention efforts can help older Americans avoid preventable injuries and save Medicare costs by reducing avoidable hospitalizations and potentially deadly health events. With fatal falls expected to rise to nearly 100,000 per year by 2030 and the costs of falls-related care reaching $100 billion, APTQI underscores the value of the SAFE Act in enabling access to more successful falls prevention strategies delivered by our nation’s falls prevention experts – physical therapists.

“I encourage Congress to prioritize The SAFE Act as they return to Washington, since we now have a clear window to advance this bipartisan bill through the end of the year. If passed, this legislation would expand proven interventions that keep older Americans safe, healthy, and independent,” concluded Patel.

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