Resolve, Directing the Commissioner of Health and Human Services To Develop Strategies To Keep Senior Citizens Safe from Falls
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1707
Committee Amendment CA_A_H814 (House)

COMMITTEE AMEND"MENT ,A, to H.P. 1214, L.D. 1707, "Resolve, Directing the 
Commissioner of Health and Human Services To Develop Strategies To Keep Senior 
Citizens Safe from Falls" 
Amend the resolve by striking out everything after the title and before the summary 
and inserting in its place the following: 
'Sec. 1. Falls Prevention Coalition. Resolved: 
That the Commissioner of 
Health and Human Services shall appoint a statewide coalition to be known as the Falls 
Prevention Coalition. The coalition must include the current membership of the Southern 
Maine Area Agency on Aging's Project Advisory Committee for the "A Matter of 
Balance" project with additional participation from the long-term care ombudsman 
associated with the Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Elder and 
Adult Services, Maine Medical Association, Maine Hospital Association, Northern New 
England Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, Maine Health Care 
Association and others as appropriate to develop a broad-based coalition with expertise to 
review and serve as a vetting panel for additional falls prevention initiatives. 
The Falls Prevention Coalition under the direction of the Department of Health and 
Human Services, Office of Elder Services shall conduct a review of the effects of falls of 
older adults on health care costs, the potential for reducing the number of falls of older 
adults and the most effective strategies for reducing falls and health care costs associated 
with falls. The Falls Prevention Coalition shall: 
1. Consider strategies to improve the identification of older adults who have a high 
risk of falling; 
2. Consider strategies to improve data collection and analysis to identify fall risk, 
health care cost data and protective factors; 
3. Consider strategies to maximize the dissemination of proven, effective fall 
prevention interventions and identify barriers to those interventions; 
4. Assess the risk and measure the incidence of falls occurring in various settings; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT A 
to H.P.1214, L.D. 1707 
5. Identify evidence-based community programs designed to prevent falls among 
older adults; 
6. Review falls prevention initiatives for community-based settings, including: the 
Senior Fall Prevention Screening Kit, Minnesota; Slips, Trips and Falls - A void Them All 
- Designing and Implementing a Community Based Multifactorial Falls Reduction 
Intervention Program, New Hampshire; Health, Education, Research Outreach for 
Seniors - Reducing Falls and Serious Injuries, Temple University; and the Connecticut 
Collaboration for Fall Prevention, Yale School of Medicine; and 
7. Examine the components and key elements of the above falls prevention 
initiatives, consider their applicability in Maine and develop strategies for pilot testing, 
implementation and evaluation; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Report effects of falls on older adults in Maine. Resolved: That the 
Falls Prevention Coalition shall submit a report to the Commissioner of Health and 
Human Services and the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services, no 
later than November 2,2006 that includes findings under section 1, recommendations and 
suggested legislation. The report must include recommendations for: 
1. A statewide demonstration project assessing the utility of targeted fall risk 
screening and referral programs; 
2. Intervention approaches, including physical activity, medication assessment and 
reduction of medication when possible, vision enhancement and home-modification 
strategies; 
3. Programs that are targeted to fall victims who are at a high risk for 2nd falls and 
that are designed to maximize independence and quality of life for older adults, 
particularly those older adults with functional limitations; and 
4. Programs that encourage partnerships to prevent falls among older adults and 
prevent or reduce injuries when falls occur. 
The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and 
human services matters may report out legislation related to the report to the First Regular 
Session of the 123rd Legislature.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment changes the resolve by directing the Commissioner of Health and 
Human Services to appoint a statewide Falls Prevention Coalition. The amendment gives 
the responsibility for conducting several activities to the coalition under the direction of 
Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Elder Services. The amendment 
eliminates the educational activities that the bill included. The amendment directs the 
coalition to: review health costs associated with falls, review strategies for reducing falls, 
review the potential for reducing falls and associated costs and consider 7 strategies 
delineated in the resolve. The amendment directs the coalition to submit a report to the 
commissioner and the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services that 
includes findings and recommendations along with suggestions for legislation. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See Attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 02/27/06 .:tvae. 
LD 1707 
LR2640(02) 
Resolve, Directing the Commissioner of Health and Human Services to Develop Strategies to Keep 
Senior Citizens Safe from Falls 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as. Amended by Committee Amendment '/1" 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Any additional costs to the Department of Health and Human Services in implementing this bill can be absorbed by 
the department utilizing existing budgetary resources. 
LR2640(2) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1