1. NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL BILL O’CONNELL NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO REDUCE OLDER ADULT FALLS DOWN WITH FALLS COALITION BUENA PARK, CA SEPTEMBER 12, 2007

2. NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO REDUCE FALLS FOCUS WHAT PROGRESS IS BEING MADE IN WASHINGTON TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ISSUE AND CREATE ACTION?

3. NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO REDUCE FALLS SINCE 2004 PRIME FORCE FOR CHANGE – FALLS FREE COALITION’S ADVOCACY WORK GROUP : NATIONAL COUNCIL ON AGING HOME SAFETY COUNCIL NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL

4. NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO REDUCE FALLS NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL (WWW.NSC.ORG) MISSION: REDUCE DEATH AND INJURY ON HIGHWAYS, IN WORKPLACES, AND IN THE HOME/COMMUNITY ORGANIZED IN 1913, CONGRESSIONALLY CHARTERED IN 1953 OVER 52,000 MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS FALLS BILL ADVOCACY SINCE 2002

5. NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO REDUCE FALLS HISTORY- 107 TH CONGRESS (2001-2) ELDER FALL PREVENTION ACT OF 2002 S 1922: SEN. HUTCHINSON INTRO. FEB 07, 2002; HEARING JUNE 11, 2002 SUBCMTE. ON AGING H 3695: REP. PALLONE INTRO. FEB 07, 2002 REF SUBCMTE. ON HEALTH MARCH 5, 2002

6. NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO REDUCE FALLS ELDER FALL PREVENTION ACT OF 2002 (cont.) AOA TO DO 3 YR NAT’L ED CAMPAIGN W/ NSC AND PROVIDE STATE COALITION GRANTS CDC TO DO RESEARCH ON RISK ID/PREVENTION, EDUCATE HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL, DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS FOR INSTITUTIONAL AND RESIDENTIAL POPULATIONS DHHS SECRETARY TO REPORT ON POTENTIAL MEDICARE SAVINGS DUE TO EXPANDED SERVICES AUTHORIZED $38 MILLION/YR IN FY 03-05

7. NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO REDUCE FALLS HISTORY- 108 TH CONGRESS (2003-4) KEEP SENIORS SAFE FROM FALLS ACT 2004 S 1217: SEN. ENZI INTRO. JUNE 9, 2003; MAJOR AMENDMENT OCT 8, 2004 BY SEN. GREGG PASSED NOV 18, 2004 H 3695: REP. PALLONE INTRO. NOV 18, 2003 REF SUBCMTE. ON HEALTH DEC 4, 2003

8. NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO REDUCE FALLS KEEP SENIORS SAFE FROM FALLS ACT 2004 (CONT.) WHAT CHANGED FROM THE 01-02 BILL? DELETED NAMED GRANTEE ORGANIZATION DELETED AUTHORIZATION $

9. NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO REDUCE FALLS HISTORY- 109 TH CONGRESS (2005-6) KEEP SENIORS SAFE FROM FALLS ACT 2006 S 1531: SEN. ENZI INTRO. JULY 28, 2005 MAJOR AMENDMENT DEC 5, 2006 H 5608: REP. PALLONE INTRO. JUNE 14, 2006 REF SUBCMTE. ON HEALTH JUNE 23, 2006

10. NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO REDUCE FALLS KEEP SENIORS SAFE FROM FALLS ACT 2006 (CONT.) WHAT CHANGED FROM THE 03-04 BILL? ADDED AUTHORIZATION $ ($25 MILLION IN SENATE; $35 MILLION IN HOUSE) BECAME A CARRIER BILL FOR LAST MINUTE EFFORT TO FUND TBI RESEARCH

11. NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO REDUCE FALLS CURRENT- 110 TH CONGRESS (2007-8) SAFETY OF SENIORS ACT 2007 S 845: SEN. ENZI INTRO. MAR 12, 2007 MAJOR AMENDMENT MAR 15, 2007 SECOND MAJOR AMENDMENT MAR 29, 2007 PASSED AUGUST 1, 2007 H ????: REP. PALLONE INTRO. SEPT ?, 2007

12. NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO REDUCE FALLS SAFETY OF SENIORS ACT 2007 - LESS IS MORE?  LANGUAGE IS “PERMISSIVE” (THE SECRETARY MAY)  NO AUTHORIZATION AMOUNTS  NO TIMETABLES

13. NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO REDUCE FALLS SAFETY OF SENIORS ACT 2007 WHAT DO WE GET?  POLICY CHANGE: o‘THE SECRETAY WILL EXPAND AND INTENSIFY PROGRAMS FOR RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITES CONCERNING ELDER FALLS.’

14. NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO REDUCE FALLS SAFETY OF SENIORS ACT 2007 WHAT DO WE GET?  PROGRAM OUTLINE: oPUBLIC EDUCATION- NATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR OLDER ADULTS, THEIR FAMILIES, PROVIDERS, INCLUDING STATE COALITIONS AS POSSIBLE GRANTEES oRESEARCH AND DEMO PROGRAMS oHEALTH PROVIDER EDUCATION

15. NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO REDUCE FALLS SAFETY OF SENIORS ACT 2007 WHAT DO WE GET?  DHHS SECRETARY TO REPORT ON POTENTIAL MEDICARE SAVINGS DUE TO EXPANDED SERVICES

16. NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO REDUCE FALLS SAFETY OF SENIORS ACT 2007 WHERE DO WE GO NOW? INTRODUCING A “COMPANION BILL” IN THE HOUSE PITCHING CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATIONS (NOV 07 – MAY 08)

17. NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO REDUCE FALLS THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION! FURTHER INFORMATION GO TO: WWW.NSC.ORG EMAIL BILL O’CONNELL: oconnell@nsc.org oconnell@nsc.org