I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7618 
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 pur-
poses. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 11, 2024 
Mrs. MILLER of West Virginia (for herself and Ms. STANSBURY) introduced 
the following bill; which was 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 com-
mittee concerned 
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 Representa-
tives 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’’. 
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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 strik-
ing the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; 
and’’; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subparagraph: 
‘‘(C) that, in the case of an individual who 
has been determined by a physician to have fall-
en 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; 
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(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; 
and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing 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 serv-
ices.’’. 
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made 
by paragraph (1) shall apply to annual wellness vis-
its furnished on or after January 1, 2025. 
(b) INITIAL
PREVENTIVE
PHYSICAL
EXAMINA-
TION.— 
(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: 
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‘‘(O) In the case of an individual that has 
been determined by a physician to have experi-
enced a fall in the previous calendar year, out-
patient occupational therapy services (as de-
fined 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, 2025. 
SEC. 3. REPORTS TO CONGRESS. 
Beginning January 1, 2026, 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) experienced by indi-
viduals aged 65 and older that received treatment for pain 
or injury related to a fall or falls experienced in the pre-
vious calendar year. With respect to each subsequent re-
port, such Secretary shall include the data reported in pre-
vious years and describe any changes from year to year. 
Æ 
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