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Congress·In Committee·S. 2612

Congress bill would add PT/OT fall-prevention services to Medicare wellness visits starting in 2026

SAFE Act

8 months ago·View on Congress.gov
⏸

Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

Senate
House
President
Law

Key Points

  • If a Medicare patient fell in the past year, their yearly wellness visit would have to include a fall-risk check and fall-prevention help.
  • Physical therapists and occupational therapists could provide a separate fall-risk assessment and fall-prevention services for these patients.
  • Medicare’s “welcome to Medicare” preventive exam would also cover outpatient physical therapy and occupational therapy for people who fell in the past year.
  • These changes would start for visits and exams on or after January 1, 2026.
  • Starting January 1, 2027, Health and Human Services would send Congress a yearly report on falls among people age 65+ who got care for fall-related pain or injury.
Medicare MedicaidHealthcare

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Mixed Impacts(1)
Physical Disability
Neutral
Positive Impacts(4)
Retiree
Helps
Medicare
Helps
Chronic Illness
Helps
Disability Benefits
Helps

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Jul 31, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Jul 31, 2025

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Late 2025 into early 2026

Health care offices update their intake questions and paperwork to document whether a patient had a fall in the prior calendar year and whether a physician has made that determination.

Patients may be asked more directly about falls, and clearer documentation can make it easier to qualify for the new falls-prevention services.

Early 2026

PT/OT clinics and primary care practices set up referral and scheduling routines for separate falls assessments and prevention services tied to wellness visits.

You may get faster scheduling for balance training or home-safety coaching after a wellness visit if your recent fall is documented.

Related Bills

1 bill
H.R. 1171Identical bill

SAFE Act

Feb 10 — Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

SAFE Act

Bill NumberS 2612
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionRead twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(3)
D: 3

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.