Elder Falls Bill Passes Congress, Heads to...(irman president and CEO of the National ...),Health

Date:4/8/2008

irman, president and CEO of the National Council on Aging (NCOA), welcomes the bill's support of demonstration projects, adding that "many pilot projects, including models developed by the NCOA, continue to demonstrate cost-effective interventions and methods to decrease falls among older Americans."

Additional Funding Needed

According to Patricia Adkins, Chief Operating Officer of the Home Safety Council, the passage of the Safety of Seniors Act of 2007 is an important first step that should be followed by appropriating additional funding for the CDC's falls prevention budget.

Based on CDC figures, more than $19 billion annually is spent on treating the elderly for the adverse effects of falls: $12 billion for hospitalization, $4 billion for emergency department visits, and $3 billion for outpatient care. Most of these expenses are paid for by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services through Medicare. It is projected that direct treatment costs from elder falls will escalate to $43.8 billion annually by 2020.

"If we are to make a meaningful difference for older adults, we must communicate to Congress and the White House that more resources are needed to adopt programs that are working," said Adkins, "Trying to solve a $19 billion problem with a $1 million budget does not make sense. Our older Americans deserve better."

Earlier this year, the Falls Free Coalition Advocacy Work Group and 25 other organizations called on Congress to add $20.7 million in Fiscal Year 2009 for the CDC to address the growing, large-scale problem of falls among older Americans.

"Among the greatest financial challenges facing the U.S. Government, its citizens and their employers is stemming the rising cost of healthcare services," said AARP Senior Vice President David Sloane. "Our 31 organizations, representing millions of older Americans, want to ensure sufficient funding for the CDC so that significant progress can be made to red
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SOURCE Falls Free Coalition Advocacy Work Group Copyright©2008 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

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