Every day, thousands of older Americans fall. These falls often lead to prolonged pain, broken bones, hospitalizations and even death. They also increase health care costs, with estimated annual costs totaling $100 billion by 2030. Fortunately, falls are preventable.
The Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly (SAFE) Act (H.R. 7618), a new bill in Congress, would streamline access to physical therapy and help keep seniors on their feet.
This bill would ensure more seniors receive a fall risk assessment from a falls expert to prevent accidents, injuries and hospitalizations by including no-cost fall risk assessments from physical or occupational therapists in Medicare beneficiaries’ wellness benefit.
The SAFE Act would enable older Californians to live safer, more independent lives.
Fabrice Rockich
San Jose
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