Medicare expands fall-prevention care for seniors starting 2026
S. 2612 — SAFE Act · Filed by Jim Justice (R-WV) · 3 cosponsors · Introduced Jul 31, 2025 · Referred to committee
Your members of Congress
Enter a ZIP to see where your representative and both senators stood on this bill.
Looked up on this device — your ZIP is never stored on our servers.
What it does
This bill expands Medicare's annual wellness visit and initial preventive physical exam to include falls risk assessments and fall prevention services delivered by physical therapists and occupational therapists for seniors who have fallen in the prior year. It takes effect January 1, 2026, and requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to report annually to Congress on fall-related injuries and treatment in seniors aged 65+.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core function is to broaden Medicare coverage of falls-prevention services by including physical and occupational therapists in the annual wellness visit and initial preventive exam. This is straightforward preventive-care policy with no hidden mechanisms.
What the text implies
- Expands the scope of practitioners eligible to bill Medicare for preventive services, potentially increasing utilization and program costs if uptake is high among the 65+ population.
- Annual reporting requirement creates a data feedback loop that may drive future policy decisions on fall prevention, potentially expanding coverage further if trends show benefit.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
physical therapy providers; occupational therapy providers; Medicare Advantage insurers (if they capture efficiency gains)