According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 36 million older Americans fall every year – a figure representing roughly one-quarter of all seniors. Unfortunately, this problem is only expected to worsen as America’s population grows older: fall injuries and deaths are likely to increase.
The cost burden for this epidemic is immense, but a new report confirms that physical therapy can help improve patient outcomes and decrease costs after a fall.
Key findings from the study, developed by The Moran Company, include:
- Medicare beneficiaries who received physical therapy after a fall were 50% less likely to visit the emergency room or be hospitalized for a follow-up injury in the 6 months following the fall.
- Medicare beneficiaries who received physical therapy after a fall were 39% less likely to use opioids in the 6 months following the fall.
- Increased physical therapy use by Medicare beneficiaries prone to falls could reduce total healthcare spending by as much as $10 billion.
As policymakers consider ways to help prevent and treat senior falls, I hope they’ll support legislation to preserve access to physical therapy services as part of the solution.
