Bill > S668

This bill establishes the Office of Falls Prevention within the Veterans Health Administration to comprehensively address fall risks for veterans. The new office will be led by a Chief Officer who reports to the Under Secretary for Health and will have broad responsibilities including monitoring and improving fall prevention healthcare services, developing care standards, providing technical assistance to medical facilities, and overseeing resource distribution. The bill requires the office to conduct a national education campaign targeting veterans at risk for falls, their families, and healthcare providers, with the goal of reducing fall incidents and increasing awareness of available benefits and services. Additionally, the bill mandates research collaboration with the National Institute on Aging to develop evidence-based falls prevention programs specifically tailored to veteran populations, including research on home modifications, medication management, and patient mobility. The legislation also requires the VA to establish a joint expert panel, update patient handling directives, implement biennial training for providers on safe patient handling, and conduct a pilot program exploring home improvements to prevent falls. Furthermore, the bill expands existing nursing home care requirements to include mandatory falls risk assessments and prevention services for veterans who have fallen or are at risk of falling, with these provisions set to expire in 2028.