We don’t often think of slips and trips being public health concerns, but falls and falls-related injuries are some of the most pressing health risks facing older Louisianans. These accidents often lead to serious injuries, a loss of independence and substantial healthcare costs – all figures that will keep rising unless lawmakers intervene. My colleagues at Physiofit Physical Therapy and I recently had the opportunity to welcome staff from the office of Sen. Bill Cassidy, where we shared more information about the key role physical and occupational therapists play in reducing fall risks.
The good news is that falls are preventable. The bad news? Medicare doesn’t currently cover falls-risk assessments provided by physical and occupational therapists – falls experts who are trained to assess balance, strength and mobility and help individuals develop personalized plans to avoid falls. That’s why I’m encouraging Sen. Cassidy to support the bipartisan Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly (SAFE) Act. This commonsense legislation would allow Medicare beneficiaries to receive a no-cost falls risk assessment during their annual wellness visit by the very professionals trained to prevent falls: physical and occupational therapists. Passing the SAFE Act would help reverse the trends of the costly, deadly and growing problem facing adults 65 and older, as falls are the leading cause of injury for this population.