SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act of 2025
SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act of 2025 – Plain Language Summary This bill would establish a new Office of Falls Prevention within the Veterans Health Administration to help reduce falls among veterans—a significant health and safety concern for aging veterans. The office would oversee education campaigns targeted at veterans, their families, and VA healthcare providers to increase awareness about fall prevention and available VA services designed to reduce falls. The bill also requires the VA to update its internal policies and directives related to falls prevention and aging care. Beyond internal VA changes, the bill expands the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Healthy Aging and Age-Friendly Communities to include the Department of Veterans Affairs, allowing the VA to participate in broader federal discussions about aging and community safety.
This affects primarily older veterans and those at risk of falls, as well as VA healthcare staff who would implement the new prevention programs. Currently, the bill is in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full House.
CRS Official Summary
Supporting Access to Falls Education and prevention and Strengthening Training Efforts and Promoting Safety initiatives for Veterans Act of 2025 or the SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act of 2025This bill addresses certain mobility and aging care and services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).First, the bill requires the establishment and operation of the Office of Falls Prevention within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) for purposes of providing, evaluating, and improving VA health care services related to falls prevention.Among other duties, the office must oversee and support a national education campaign for veterans, their families, and health care providers that focuses on reducing falls and increases awareness of available benefits or services provided by the VA to reduce falls.The bill also expands membership of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Healthy Aging and Age-Friendly Communities by including the VA.The VA must issue or update directives of the VHA for facilities and providers relating to safe patient handling and mobility policies.Additionally, the VA must determine the feasibility and advisability of implementing a pilot program to provide home improvements and structural alterations to prevent falls for veterans who are eligible for such services under VA laws.Finally, the bill requires the VA to ensure certain veterans receive a falls risk assessment from a licensed physical therapist or occupational therapist.
Latest Action
Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, 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 committee concerned.