The Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly (SAFE) Act (H.R. 1171/S.2612) is a bipartisan piece of legislation designed to integrate falls prevention services into Medicare’s standard care structure and offer physical therapy alternatives to opioid use after fall injuries.  The SAFE Act would make two key changes by creating automatic referrals related to fall screening and prevention.  Beneficiaries who report a fall during their one-time Initial Preventive Physical Examination (Welcome to Medicare Visit) would be referred to physical therapy for a falls risk assessment and preventive services. Similarly, those enrolled in Medicare for greater than 12 months who report a fall during their Annual Wellness Visit would receive a referral for a comprehensive physical therapy fall risk assessment.

According to the CDC, more than 1 in 4 older Americans falls each year, leading to 3 million ER visits, 1 million hospitalizations, and $50 billion in annual healthcare costs. In contrast, the American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA) September 2023 report, “The Economic Value of Physical Therapy in the United States”, found that targeted falls prevention physical therapy can cut costs by $2,100 per episode of care, highlighting a proven and cost-effective tool to help address this epidemic.

For physical therapists and physical therapist assistants working with older adults across many care settings, the SAFE Act could be transformative.  By establishing these new referral pathways, this legislation would expand access to preventative care, which has historically been limited under Medicare. It would also support improved national data collection on falls and related treatment, helping demonstrate the value of preventive therapy and potentially serving to shape future policy and funding decisions.

H.R. 1171 is currently under review in the House Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means Committees, with support from 27 bipartisan sponsors and cosponsors. The Senate version of the bill (S. 2612) was just introduced and has been referred to the Committee on Finance.  During APTA Capitol Hill Day on July 15, 2025, advocates rallied in support of many key pieces of legislation, including the SAFE Act.

To support the advancement of H.R. 1171, contact your legislators and urge them to demonstrate their support by cosponsoring these bills.  APTA’s advocacy tools make it easy to contact them and stay engaged as the bill moves forward. Use this link, choose “Urge Your Representative to Cosponsor the SAFE Act” and create your message.

To learn more about the work of the Joint Government Affairs Committee or how you can get involved in advocacy, visit APTA Home Health or APTA Geriatrics.