October is National Physical Therapy Month: 3 Opportunities for Falls Awareness and Advocacy

As physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, one of our primary goals is to improve the health and well-being of our patients, particularly those who are most vulnerable to injury.

Falls are the leading cause of injury and injury death among adults 65 and over. 

Physical therapists play a crucial role in educating older patients about the importance of preventative care for falls prevention. Recognizing this critical issue, the American Physical Therapy Association has designated Falls Prevention as the theme of October’s National Physical Therapy Month — a timely opportunity to raise awareness and advocate for expanded access to vital falls prevention services provided by physical therapists under Medicare and other federal programs.

The Importance of Falls Prevention Care

Falls are a significant public health concern for the older adult population. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that over 14 million older adults fall each year, leading to serious injuries, such as hip fractures and head trauma, and often resulting in prolonged hospital stays. These incidents can severely impact the quality of life of older adults, leading to loss of independence and even premature death.

Fast facts from the CDC:

• More than 1 out of 4 older Americans fall each year. 
• Falling once doubles the chances of falling again. 
• Accidental falls among older adults result in 3.6 million emergency room visits and 1.2 million hospital stays per year.

Physical therapists play a unique role in the screening, assessment, and prevention of falls. Through targeted interventions, PTs can improve balance, strength, and mobility, which are key factors in reducing the likelihood of falls. However, the ability to reach those in need is often hampered by limited access to preventive services, particularly under Medicare.

Advocating for Expanded Medicare Coverage for Falls Prevention Services

According to the CDC, falls among older adults cost $50 billion in medical costs annually, with 75 percent paid by Medicare and Medicaid. 

While education and preventative care are vital in preventing falls, the reality is that access to falls screening and prevention services under Medicare is currently limited. Expanding this access is not only essential for improving patient outcomes, but also for reducing overall health care costs.

Two current Medicare programs, the Initial Preventive Physical Examination and the Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) offer opportunities for falls risk assessment and prevention. However, these programs are currently being underutilized for this purpose. By advocating for improved access to falls prevention services within these programs, we can help ensure that more Medicare beneficiaries receive the necessary care to reduce their risk of falling.

Research supports the cost-effectiveness of such an approach. The American Physical Therapy Association’s report, “The Economic Value of Physical Therapy in the United States,” highlights the financial benefits of early intervention by physical therapists for falls prevention. According to the report, seeing a physical therapist for falls prevention services can result in a net cost benefit of approximately $2,100 per episode of care, primarily by preventing costly hospital admissions and emergency department visits. Expanding these services could not only improve the lives of Medicare beneficiaries but also generate significant cost savings for the Medicare program.

Pending Legislation in Support of Falls Prevention Services

There is growing recognition of the importance of expanding access to falls prevention education and services, and the need for legislative action to support these initiatives.

The APTA-backed bipartisan bill, Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly Act, or the SAFE Act (H.R. 7618), has been introduced in the U.S. Congress and is aimed at expanding access to falls screening and prevention in order to reduce the use of opioids that often occur as a result of a fall. The SAFE Act was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Carol Miller, R-W.Va., and Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M.

Watch this short video of U.S. Representative Carol Miller’s compelling argument for the passage of legislation that will protect older adults from falls. 

Enacting the SAFE Act would expand access to PT falls prevention services by making two critical changes to the Medicare program. First, it would provide for the referral to a physical therapist for falls screening and prevention services as part of Medicare’s “Welcome to Medicare” program. This is a preventive visit offered to newly enrolled Medicare beneficiaries and focuses on health promotion and disease prevention and detection. This change would ensure that therapy services for falls screening and prevention are provided to an individual who has been determined by their physician during the visit to have experienced a fall in the previous calendar year. 

Second, the legislation would also add a new PT falls prevention policy to Medicare’s Annual Wellness Visit so that if a physician discovers during the AWV that a beneficiary has fallen within the previous calendar year, they would be referred for a separate falls risk assessment and preventive services to be provided by a physical therapist. 

The SAFE Act will ensure that Medicare beneficiaries have access to the preventative care they need to stay healthy and independent. Expanding access to PT falls prevention screening and services for Medicare beneficiaries would reduce the number of falls each year and save the Medicare program billions of dollars a year by preventing hospitalizations.

Take Action  

If you have not already done so, now is a great time to take action and show your support for the SAFE Act. Visit the APTA Patient Action Center to send a letter to your U.S. House member urging them to co-sponsor the SAFE Act (H.R.7618).

National Physical Therapy Month provides an opportunity to celebrate the great work of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, and this year is a time to shine a spotlight on the role of PTs in falls prevention. By educating our older patients and advocating for expanded Medicare coverage, we can help reduce the number of falls among older adults and contribute to the overall health and well-being of our society. Now is the time to act — let’s make falls prevention a priority for our patients and our profession.

Resources

If there’s one thing PTs and PTAs should know about addressing falls prevention and management, it’s that there’s little reason to reinvent the gait belt. Between APTA, the federal government, and other like-minded organizations, there are plenty of resources and research to call upon. Here are links to several helpful resources:

• October is National Physical Therapy Month and this year’s theme is Falls Prevention! Every October we celebrate National Physical Therapy Month to raise awareness among consumers about the many benefits of physical therapy. It’s also a great opportunity to appreciate what PTs, PTAs, and students do to transform lives.
• APTA’s website includes a webpage dedicated to balance and falls, with links to articles, tests and measures, clinical guidelines, and more.
• APTA’s Falls Prevention Advocacy webpage is a convenient place to learn about lobbying, grassroots, and advocacy efforts surrounding falls prevention. Watch this short video on why West Virginia Rep. Carol Miller urges action on APTA-supported falls legislation. 
• APTA Geriatrics Balance & Falls Special Interest Group. The special interest group is a forum for APTA Geriatrics members to share knowledge through programs, activities, journal club discussions, and more.
• National Council on Aging. Falls Prevention Awareness Week is Sept. 18-24. Use NCOA’s resources to promote awareness and maximize the role of physical therapy.
• Check out the APTA report, The Economic Value of Physical Therapy in the U.S. | Value of PT and related tools and resources.
• Stay up to date on all of the legislation and issues APTA advocates on before the U.S. Congress. You can even join the APTA Advocacy Network to stay up to date on real-time advocacy happenings. 
• APTA’s ChoosePT.com consumer website. For consumer-related information on how valuable physical therapy is in helping people avoid falling, visit ChoosePT.com and direct your patients to do the same. An overview page discusses balance, and several articles cover fear of falling, “fall-proofing” your home, learning how to fall safely, and more. 

Medbridge also provides many resources to support falls prevention education and awareness:

Physical Therapy Continuing Education Courses on Fall Prevention: Medbridge’s fall prevention courses cover prevention, assessment, exercises, recovery, and more.

Preventing Falls with STEADI: Practical Steps for Clinicians: Learn how to utilize the CDC’s STEADI toolkit, offering free tools designed to help clinicians screen, assess, and intervene in fall risk, providing a structured framework to support better patient outcomes.

Geriatric Certification (GCS) Prep Program: This self-guided GCS Prep Program is designed to give you the tools you need to pass the test, gain expertise, and elevate the profession — all while earning CEUs.

Coming Soon! Fall Prevention Pathways: Medbridge’s new digital hybrid care platform offers a balance-oriented program for low to moderate fall-risk patients.