,,ii  #aai? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #ffh  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!       
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,febru>y #bj1 #bjbe,mr4
 ,k+ 7= himself & ,mr4 ,r\nds7 introduc$
 ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read twice &      
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'     
,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to am5d title #ch1
 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to e/abli% !      
,(fice ( ,falls ,prev5tion ( ! ,dep>tm5t
 ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 & = o!r purposes4 
#a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z 
! ,support+ ,access to ,falls ,education
 & ,prev5tion & ,/r5g!n+ ,tra9+ ,ef=ts &
 ,promot+ ,safety ,initiatives =        
,vet]ans ,act ( #bjbe or ! ,,safe ,,/eps
 = ,vet]ans ,act ( #bjbe4  #b4          
,e/abli%m5t ( ,(fice ( ,falls ,prev5tion
 ( ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs  7a7   
,e/abli%m5t ( (fice  7#a7 ,9 g5]al      
,sub*apt] ,i ( *apt] #gc ( title #ch1   
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by ins]t+ 
aft] section #gcaj;,a ! foll[+ new      
section3  #gcaj;,b4 ,(fice ( ,falls     
,prev5tion  7a7 ,(fice  7#a7 ,e/abli%m5t
 & op]ation ,! ,"u ,secret>y = ,heal?   

%all e/abli% & op]ate 9 ! ,vet]ans      
,heal? ,adm9i/ration ! ,(fice ( ,falls  
,prev5tion 79 ?is section ref]r$ to z ! 
,(fice74  7#b7 ,location ( (fice ,!     
,(fice %all be locat$ at ! ,c5tral      
,(fice ( ! ,dep>tm5t4  7#c7 ,lead]%ip   
7,a7 ,head ,! head ( ! ,(fice is ! ,*ief
 ,(fic] ( ,falls ,prev5tion 79 ?is      
section ref]r$ to z ! ,*ief ,(fic]74    
7,b7 ,report+ ,! ,*ief ,(fic] %all      
report to ! ,"u ,secret>y = ,heal?4     
7#d7 ,/aff+ & support ,! ,"u ,secret>y =
 ,heal? %all provide ! ,(fice ) su* /aff
 & o!r support z may be necess>y = !    
,(fice to c>ry out effectively !        
functions ( ! ,(fice "u ?is section4    
7#e7 ,reorganization ,! ,"u ,secret>y = 
,heal? may reorganize exi/+ (fices )9 ! 
,vet]ans ,heal? ,adm9i/ration z ( ! date
 ( ! enactm5t ( ?is section 9 ord] to   
avoid duplication ) ! functions ( !     
,(fice4  7b7 ,functions ,! functions ( !
 ,(fice include ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,to      
provide a c5tral (fice = monitor+ &     
enc\rag+ ! activities ( ! ,vet]ans      

,heal? ,adm9i/ration ) respect to !     
provision1 evaluation1 & improvem5t (   
heal? c>e s]vices relat+ to falls       
prev5tion provid$ to vet]ans by !       
,dep>tm5t1 ) ! goal ( av]t+ co/ly heal? 
c>e utilization :ile decreas+ ! incid5ce
 ( falls4  7#b7 ,to develop & implem5t  
/&>ds ( c>e = ! provision by ! ,dep>tm5t
 ( heal? c>e s]vices relat+ to falls    
prev5tion4  7#c7 ,to monitor & id5tify  
defici5cies 9 /&>ds ( c>e = ! provision 
( heal? c>e s]vices relat+ to falls     
prev5tion1 to provide te*nical assi/ance
 to m$ical facilities ( ! ,dep>tm5t1 to 
provide te*nical assi/ance to programs (
 ! ,dep>tm5t t support vet]ans 9 _! own 
homes1 to address & rem$y defici5cies ( 
su* facilities & programs1 & to p]=m    
ov]sight ( implem5tation ( su* /&>ds (  
c>e4  7#d7 ,to monitor & id5tify        
defici5cies 9 /&>ds ( c>e = ! provision 
( heal? c>e s]vices relat+ to falls     
prev5tion ?r\gh ! community pursuant to 
?is title & to provide recomm5dations to
 ! appropriate (fice to address & rem$y 

any defici5cies4  7#e7 ,to ov]see       
di/ribution ( res\rces & in=mation      
relat$ to falls prev5tion = vet]ans "u  
?is title4  7#f7 ,to promote ! expansion
 & improvem5t ( cl9ical1 rese>*1 &      
educational activities ( ! ,vet]ans     
,heal? ,adm9i/ration ) respect to heal? 
c>e s]vices relat+ to falls prev5tion1  
includ+ rese>* activities on falls      
prev5tion conduct$ betwe5 ! ,(fice (    
,rese>* & ,developm5t ( ! ,dep>tm5t & ! 
,national ,in/itute on ,ag+4  7#g7 ,to  
promote ! developm5t or expansion (     
rigor\s quality assessm5t or improvem5t 
processes design$ to prev5t falls1      
includ+ ?r\gh coord9ation &             
collaboration ) (fices )9 ! ,dep>tm5t   
det]m9$ appropriate by ! ,secret>y4     
7#h7 ,to coord9ate home modification &  
adaptation programs adm9i/]$ by ! ,"u   
,secret>y = ,b5efits "u *apt] #ba ( ?is 
title & ! ,"u ,secret>y = ,heal? "u     
section #agag7;a77#b7 ( ?is title4  7#i7
 ,to c>ry out su* o!r duties z ! ,"u    
,secret>y = ,heal? may require4  7c7    

,public education campaign ,! ,*ief     
,(fic] %all-- 7#a7 ov]see & support a   
national education campaign t-- 7,a7 is 
direct$ pr9cipally to vet]ans det]m9$ to
 be at risk = falls1 _! families1 & _!  
heal? c>e provid]s2 &  7,b7 focuses on--
 7i7 r$uc+ falls1 falls ) major injury1 
& repeat falls = vet]ans receiv+ c>e "u 
! laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y2 &  7ii7 
increas+ aw>5ess ( available b5efits1   
grants1 devices1 or s]vices provid$ by !
 ,dep>tm5t t w\ld aid vet]ans 9 r$uc+   
falls & prev5t+ repeat falls2 &  7#b7   
aw>d grants or contracts to qualifi$    
organizations = ! purpose ( support+    
local education campaigns focus+ on     
r$uc+ falls1 falls ) major injury1 &    
repeat falls = vet]ans receiv+ c>e "u ! 
laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y4  7d7      
,rese>* on falls prev5tion programs =   
vet]an populations  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,!    
,*ief ,(fic] %all "w ) ! ,(fice (       
,rese>* & ,developm5t ( ! ,dep>tm5t & ! 
,national ,in/itute on ,ag+ to develop  
rese>* = evid5ce-bas$ falls prev5tion   

programs t w b5efit vet]ans1 includ+--  
7,a7 programs t ov]lap ) ! priorities ( 
! ,dep>tm5t2  7,b7 programs t may focus 
on or be ( p>ticul> b5efit to vet]ans2 &
  7,c7 programs t may include           
p>ticipants ) multiple comorbidities4   
7#b7 ,matt]s ,to be includ$ ,! rese>*   
requir$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 %all include ! 
foll[+3 7,a7 ,rese>* 9 support+ vet]ans 
) & )\t s]vice-connect$ disabilities    
receiv+ home modification grants "u     
section #agag or #baja ( ?is title4     
7,b7 ,developm5t ( recomm5dations =     
falls prev5tion int]v5tions = vet]ans ) 
s]vice-connect$ disabilities1 includ+   
home modification int]v5tions4  7,c7    
,rese>* address+ m$ication managem5t &  
polyph>macy z risk factors = falls      
prev5tion & develop+ recomm5dations =   
provid]s & electronic heal? records     
sy/ems ( ! ,dep>tm5t to monitor =       
vet]ans at risk ( falls bas$ on use (   
c]ta9 m$ications4  7,d7 ,rese>* on      
improvem5ts = safe pati5t h&l+ &        
mobility among vet]ans1 p>ticul>ly 9    

facilities 7bo? m$ical & non-m$ical7 t  
are n sp9al cord injury c5t]s4  7#c7    
,subject matt] exp]t panel  7,a7 ,9     
g5]al ,! ,secret>y & ! ,director ( !    
,national ,in/itute on ,ag+ %all e/abli%
 a jo9t subject matt] exp]t panel to    
develop recomm5dations z requir$ "u     
p>agraph 7#b77;,b74  7,b7 ,memb]%ip ,!  
subject matt] exp]t panel requir$ "u    
subp>agraph 7,a7 %all be compris$ (     
eight memb]s1 ( :i*-- 7i7 f\r %all be   
appo9t$ by ! ,secret>y2 &  7ii7 f\r %all
 be appo9t$ by ! ,director ( ! ,national
 ,in/itute on ,ag+4  4  7#b7 ,e/abli%m5t
 ( jo9t subject matt] exp]t panel ,n    
lat] ?an #ahj days aft] ! date ( !      
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y (      
,vet]ans ,affairs & ! ,director ( !     
,national ,in/itute on ,ag+ %all e/abli%
 ! jo9t subject matt] exp]t panel       
requir$ "u section #gcaj;,b7d77#c7 (    
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 z add$  
by p>agraph 7#a74  7#c7 ,cl]ical am5dm5t
 ,! table ( sections at ! beg9n+ ( su*  
*apt] is am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] ! item    

relat+ to section #gcaj;,a ! foll[+ new 
item3  #gcaj;,b4 ,(fice ( ,falls        
,prev5tion4  4  7b7 ,expansion (        
,int]ag5cy ,coord9at+ ,committee on     
,heal?y ,ag+ & ,age-,fri5dly            
,communities ,section #bjc7;c7 ( ! ,old]
 ,am]icans ,act ( #aife 7#db ,u4,s4,c4  
#cjac7;c77 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9 p>agraph   
7#b71 by ins]t+ ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans  
,affairs1 aft] ! ,commission] ( ,social 
,security12 &  7#b7 9 p>agraph 7#g71 9 !
 matt] prec$+ subp>agraph 7,a7-- 7,a7 by
 ins]t+ ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'       
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives1   
aft] ! ,committee on ,ways & ,means ( ! 
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives12 &  7,b7 by    
ins]t+ ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'        
,affairs ( ! ,s5ate1 aft] ! ,committee  
on ,heal?1 ,education1 ,labor1 &        
,p5sions ( ! ,s5ate14  7c7 ,safe h&l+   
transf] te*niques ,n lat] ?an #ahj days 
aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !  
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all issue
 or update directives ( ! ,vet]ans      
,heal? ,adm9i/ration = facilities &     

provid]s relat+ to safe pati5t h&l+ &   
mobility policies at ! national1        
,vet]ans ,integrat$ ,s]vice ,network1 & 
heal?-c>e sy/em levels1 :i* %all include
 ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,requir+ bi5nial tra9+ =
 provid]s1 includ+ t all provid]s be    
tra9$ 9 safe pati5t h&l+ & use (        
mobility aids & mobility te*niques4     
7#b7 ,requir+ t any m$ical facility :]e 
pati5ts may ne$ assi/ance ) transf] or  
mobility h access to safe pati5t h&l+ & 
mobility te*nology appropriate = ! sett+
 to enable safe transf] & mobilization =
 access to c>e & activities ( daily liv+
 = vet]ans :o are p>alyz$ or :o ne$     
assi/ance ) mobility4  7#c7 ,requir+ t  
all em]g5cy sett+s h imm$iate access to 
safe pati5t h&l+ & mobility te*nology to
 enable safe transf]1 fall recov]y1 &   
reposition+4  7d7 ,pilot program on     
falls prev5tion int]v5tions ti$ to      
resid5tial adaptations & alt]ations     
7#a7 ,det]m9ation ,! ,secret>y (        
,vet]ans ,affairs %all det]m9e !        
feasibility & advisability ( c>ry+ out a

 pilot program to provide home          
improvem5ts & /ructural alt]ations to   
prev5t falls = all vet]ans eligible = ^?
 s]vices "u ! laws adm9i/]$ by !        
,secret>y4  7#b7 ,plan ,n lat] ?an "o   
ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1
 ! ,secret>y %all submit to ,congress a 
report-- 7,a7 indicat+ ! plans ( !      
,secret>y to c>ry out a pilot program to
 provide home improvem5ts & /ructural   
alt]ations to prev5t falls = all vet]ans
 eligible = ^? s]vices "u ! laws        
adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y2 or  7,b7       
specify+ :y ! ,secret>y det]m9$ "u      
p>agraph 7#a7 t x is n feasible or      
advisable to c>ry out su* a pilot       
program4  7#c7 ,report on lessons le>n$ 
,if ! ,secret>y c>ries out ! pilot      
program describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a71 n lat]
 ?an #ahj days aft] ! t]m9ation ( !     
pilot program1 ! ,*ief ,(fic] ( ,falls  
,prev5tion ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans     
,affairs e/abli%$ "u section            
#gcaj;,b7a77#c77;,a7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$
 ,/ates ,code1 z add$ by subsection     

7a77#a71 %all submit to ,congress a     
report on lessons le>n$ f ! pilot       
program & any recomm5dations on ext5d+  
or exp&+ ! pilot program4  7e7 ,report  
on falls prev5tion initiatives  7#a7 ,9 
g5]al ,n lat] ?an two ye>s aft] ! date (
 ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 or "o ye> aft] !
 appo9tm5t ( ! ,*ief ,(fic] ( ,falls    
,prev5tion ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans     
,affairs e/abli%$ "u section            
#gcaj;,b7a77#c77;,a7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$
 ,/ates ,code1 z add$ by subsection     
7a77#a71 :i*ev] occurs fir/1 ! ,*ief    
,(fic]1 or ! ,"u ,secret>y = ,heal? ( ! 
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs if a ,*ief
 ,(fic] has n yet be5 appo9t$1 %all     
submit to ,congress a report on falls   
prev5tion initiatives )9 ! ,dep>tm5t4   
7#b7 ,elem5ts ,! report requir$ by      
p>agraph 7#a7 %all evaluate1 = !        
?ree-ye> p]iod prec$+ ! date ( !        
enactm5t ( ?is ,act-- 7,a7 scre5+       
proc$ures at facilities ( ! ,vet]ans    
,heal? ,adm9i/ration = risk ( falls & ! 
preval5ce ( result+ falls prev5tion     

int]v5tions2  7,b7 ! use by ! ,dep>tm5t 
( electronic heal? record docum5tation =
 risk ( falls among vet]ans2  7,c7 !    
numb] ( home modification grants provid$
 "u ei!r ! ,home ,improvem5ts &         
,/ructural ,alt]ations ,program ( !     
,dep>tm5t "u section #agag ( title #ch1 
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 or ! ,specially    
,adapt$ ,h\s+ ,program ( ! ,dep>tm5t "u 
section #baja ( su* title2  7,d7 ! ext5t
 to :i* grants provid$ "u ! programs    
specifi$ "u subp>agraph 7,c7 prev5t     
falls among vet]ans & any recomm5dations
 ) respect to su* programs 9 ! case (   
falls among vet]ans t 7 n prev5t$2  7,e7
 = vet]ans eligible = ! ,home           
,improvem5ts & ,/ructural ,alt]ations   
,program ( ! ,dep>tm5t "u section #agag 
( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1       
pursuant to subsection 7a77#b77;,b7 (   
su* section1 ! numb] ( home modification
 grants provid$ to ea* vet]an 9 receipt 
( su* a grant2  7,f7 ! types ( provid]s 
t h conduct$ m$ical assessm5ts lead+ to 
a recomm5dation = a home modification   

ti$ to m$ical necessity1 & any          
recomm5dations = legislative or         
adm9i/rative action to exp& ! li/ (     
provid]s eligible to conduct m$ical     
assessm5ts lead+ to a recomm5dation = a 
home modification2  7,g7 home evaluation
 processes t are conduct$ 9 connection )
 aw>ds made "u ! programs specifi$ "u   
subp>agraph 7,c7 & any recomm5dations = 
improv+ ! evaluation & review process2  
7,h7 report+ programs & s(tw>e ( !      
,dep>tm5t us$ to capture incid5ces (    
falls 9 c>e sites ( ! ,vet]ans ,heal?   
,adm9i/ration & o!r vet]ans' sett+s2    
7,i7 limitations on uptake & use (      
curr5t prev5tion1 scre5+1 & int]v5tion  
programs design$ to address falls       
prev5tion2 &  7,j7 recomm5dations = !   
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs to "w ) ! 
,c5t]s = ,disease ,control & ,prev5tion1
 or o!r entities det]m9$ appropriate by 
! ,secret>y1 to bett] capture data on   
falls by a vet]an occurr+ 9 ! home or 9 
! community4  #c4 ,e/abli%m5t ( falls   
assessm5t & fall prev5tion s]vice       

requirem5ts = vet]ans  7a7 ,requir$     
nurs+ home c>e ,section #agaj;,a ( title
 #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by  
/rik+ subsection 7d7 & ins]t+ ! foll[+3 
7d7 ,9 ! case ( an individual det]m9$ by
 a physician to h fall5 or to h be5 at  
risk ( fall+ dur+ ! previ\s "o-ye>      
p]iod1 ! ,secret>y %all ensure t a      
lic5s$ physical !rapi/ or a lic5s$      
occupational !rapi/ conducts a falls    
risk assessm5t = ! individual & provides
 fall prev5tion s]vices dur+ ! /ay ( !  
individual 9 ! nurs+ home4  7e7 ,!      
provisions ( subsection 7a7 %all t]m9ate
 on ,septemb] #cj1 #bjbh4  4  7b7       
,ext5d$ c>e s]vices ,section #agaj;,b7a7
 ( su* title is am5d$ by add+ at ! end !
 foll[+ new p>agraph3  7#g7 ,! conduct (
 an annual falls risk assessm5t & !     
provision ( fall prev5tion s]vices by a 
lic5s$ physical !rapi/ or lic5s$        
occupational !rapi/4  4