SAFE Act’s Lead Sponsor, Sen. Jim Justice, Discusses Bill During West Virginia Clinic Visit

On July 6, Senator Jim Justice (WV) visited a First Settlement Physical Therapy clinic in Beckley, WV, to meet with constituents and discuss the Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly Act (SAFE Act), legislation introduced by the senator to prevent falls among older adults and reduce healthcare spending. 

With 33.1% of older adults in West Virginia falling each year, First Settlement patients and providers stressed that provisions of the SAFE Act would provide preventive, life-saving care, helping seniors live safer, more independent lives. The bill would enable at-risk Medicare beneficiaries to receive a no-cost fall assessment from a physical therapist as part of their annual wellness check. 

During the visit, Sen. Justice heard firsthand from patients who have benefited from physical therapy, with one local patient at the event, Tina Boyd, who broke her hip from a fall, stating: “I tell these guys every day, they gave me my life back.” 

Sharing his own experience of a bad fall during a WV girls’ basketball tournament earlier this year, Sen. Justice highlighted the importance of falls prevention and physical therapy before catastrophe strikes. He noted how the SAFE Act would help older adults stay prepared, active, and independent.

“This bill is about prevention, plain and simple. If we can help seniors stay steady on their feet, stay active, and stay independent longer, that’s better for them, better for their families, and better for taxpayers too,” the Senator said.

APTQI commends Sen. Justice for introducing the SAFE Act, particularly given the U.S.’s growing aging population, and continues to advocate for bipartisan support for the bill in the U.S. House and Senate.

Thank you to First Settlement PT for hosting Senator Justice and raising awareness about the value of physical therapy in the lives of West Virginia patients and millions more across the U.S. 

FSPT’s owner and CEO, Simon Hargus, stated, “Senator Justice, as do physical therapists, believes when you have the right kind of care at the right time, you can unlock a win-win for both patients and the budget.”

The event received significant media attention including coverage in: WV News, The Register-Herald, WOAY, WVNS-TV, and WVVA.