S. 2612

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2612 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2612

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to include physical 
therapists and occupational therapists as health professionals for 
purposes of the annual wellness visit under the Medicare program, and 
for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 31, 2025

Mr. Justice introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
referred to the Committee on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to include physical 
therapists and occupational therapists as health professionals for 
purposes of the annual wellness visit under the Medicare program, and 
for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Stopping Addiction and Falls for the 
Elderly Act'' or the ``SAFE Act''.

SEC. 2. PHYSICAL THERAPY AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY BENEFIT IN THE 
MEDICARE ANNUAL WELLNESS VISIT AND INITIAL PREVENTIVE 
PHYSICAL EXAM.

(a) Annual Wellness Visit.--
(1) In general.--Section 1861(hhh) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(hhh)) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``; 
and'' and inserting a semicolon;
(ii) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking 
the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; 
and
(iii) by adding at the end the following 
new subparagraph:
``(C) that, in the case of an individual who has been 
determined by a physician to have fallen in the previous 
calendar year, includes a falls risk assessment and fall 
prevention services.''; and
(B) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``or'' 
at the end;
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting ``; or''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following 
new subparagraph:
``(D) in the case of an individual described in paragraph 
(1)(C), a physical therapist or an occupational therapist 
furnishing a separate falls risk assessment and fall prevention 
services.''.
(2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) 
shall apply to annual wellness visits furnished on or after 
January 1, 2026.
(b) Initial Preventive Physical Examination.--
(1) In general.--Section 1861(ww)(2) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(ww)(2)) is amended--
(A) in subparagraph (N), by moving the margins of 
such subparagraph 2 ems to the left;
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (O) as 
subparagraph (P); and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (N) the 
following new subparagraph:
``(O) In the case of an individual that has been determined 
by a physician to have experienced a fall in the previous 
calendar year, outpatient occupational therapy services (as 
defined in subsection (g)) and outpatient physical therapy 
services (as defined in subsection (p)).''.
(2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) 
shall apply to initial preventive physical examinations 
furnished on or after January 1, 2026.

SEC. 3. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

Beginning January 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services shall submit to Congress a report on the 
number of falls (as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention) experienced by individuals aged 65 and older that received 
treatment for pain or injury related to a fall or falls experienced in 
the previous calendar year. With respect to each subsequent report, 
such Secretary shall include the data reported in previous years and 
describe any changes from year to year.
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