APTQI Applauds AARP For Supporting the Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly (SAFE) Act

AARP supports role of bipartisan bill in preventing falls among our nation’s older adults, helping them stay safe, healthy, and independent.

Washington, D.C. –– Today APTQI commended AARP for expressing support for the Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly (SAFE) Act (H.R. 1171) in a recent letter to SAFE Act cosponsors, Rep. Carol Miller (R-WV) and Melanie Stansbury (D-NM).

“AARP, which advocates for the more than 100 million Americans age 50 and over, is pleased to support Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly (SAFE) Act (H.R. 1171). Your bipartisan bill would play an important role in preventing falls among our nation’s older adults, helping them stay safe, healthy, and independent,” AARP wrote in its March 14 letter.

“The SAFE Act would enable physicians to refer at-risk Medicare beneficiaries to a physical or occupational therapist for an initial falls risk assessment and prevention visit without cost sharing. Removing this financial barrier would help identify and address fall risks, prevent falls, and reduce the expenses tied to fall-related treatments,” the letter continued.

APTQI strongly supports the SAFE Act, as research shows physical therapy is a powerful tool for helping seniors avoid additional falls, reduce pain, and improve their overall wellbeing and quality of life. As fall prevention experts, physical and occupational therapists are uniquely qualified to perform fall risk assessments.

According to national data, falls are now the leading cause of injury and injury-related death among older Americans, with falls occurring more than once every second in the U.S.