[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 125 (Wednesday, August 1, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10676-S10678]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     SAFETY OF SENIORS ACT OF 2007

  Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 99, S. 845.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 845) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services to expand and intensify programs with respect to 
     research and related activities concerning elder falls.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
bill, which had been reported from the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions, with an amendment to strike all after the enacting 
clause and insert in lieu thereof the following:

                                 S. 845

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Safety of Seniors Act of 
     2007''.

     SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT.

       Part J of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 
     U.S.C. 280b et seq.) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating section 393B (as added by section 1401 
     of Public Law 106-386) as section 393C and transferring such 
     section so that it appears after section 393B (as added by 
     section 1301 of Public Law 106-310); and
       (2) by inserting after section 393C (as redesignated by 
     paragraph (1)) the following:

     ``SEC. 393D. PREVENTION OF FALLS AMONG OLDER ADULTS.

       ``(a) Public Education.--The Secretary may--

[[Page S10677]]

       ``(1) oversee and support a national education campaign to 
     be carried out by a nonprofit organization with experience in 
     designing and implementing national injury prevention 
     programs, that is directed principally to older adults, their 
     families, and health care providers, and that focuses on 
     reducing falls among older adults and preventing repeat 
     falls; and
       ``(2) award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to 
     qualified organizations, institutions, or consortia of 
     qualified organizations and institutions, for the purpose of 
     organizing State-level coalitions of appropriate State and 
     local agencies, safety, health, senior citizen, and other 
     organizations to design and carry out local education 
     campaigns, focusing on reducing falls among older adults and 
     preventing repeat falls.
       ``(b) Research.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may--
       ``(A) conduct and support research to--
       ``(i) improve the identification of older adults who have a 
     high risk of falling;
       ``(ii) improve data collection and analysis to identify 
     fall risk and protective factors;
       ``(iii) design, implement, and evaluate the most effective 
     fall prevention interventions;
       ``(iv) improve strategies that are proven to be effective 
     in reducing falls by tailoring these strategies to specific 
     populations of older adults;
       ``(v) conduct research in order to maximize the 
     dissemination of proven, effective fall prevention 
     interventions;
       ``(vi) intensify proven interventions to prevent falls 
     among older adults;
       ``(vii) improve the diagnosis, treatment, and 
     rehabilitation of elderly fall victims and older adults at 
     high risk for falls; and
       ``(viii) assess the risk of falls occurring in various 
     settings;
       ``(B) conduct research concerning barriers to the adoption 
     of proven interventions with respect to the prevention of 
     falls among older adults;
       ``(C) conduct research to develop, implement, and evaluate 
     the most effective approaches to reducing falls among high-
     risk older adults living in communities and long-term care 
     and assisted living facilities; and
       ``(D) evaluate the effectiveness of community programs 
     designed to prevent falls among older adults.
       ``(2) Educational support.--The Secretary, either directly 
     or through awarding grants, contracts, or cooperative 
     agreements to qualified organizations, institutions, or 
     consortia of qualified organizations and institutions, may 
     provide professional education for physicians and allied 
     health professionals, and aging service providers in fall 
     prevention, evaluation, and management.
       ``(c) Demonstration Projects.--The Secretary may carry out 
     the following:
       ``(1) Oversee and support demonstration and research 
     projects to be carried out by qualified organizations, 
     institutions, or consortia of qualified organizations and 
     institutions, in the following areas:
       ``(A) A multistate demonstration project assessing the 
     utility of targeted fall risk screening and referral 
     programs.
       ``(B) Programs designed for community-dwelling older adults 
     that utilize multicomponent fall intervention approaches, 
     including physical activity, medication assessment and 
     reduction when possible, vision enhancement, and home 
     modification strategies.
       ``(C) Programs that are targeted to new fall victims who 
     are at a high risk for second falls and which are designed to 
     maximize independence and quality of life for older adults, 
     particularly those older adults with functional limitations.
       ``(D) Private sector and public-private partnerships to 
     develop technologies to prevent falls among older adults and 
     prevent or reduce injuries if falls occur.
       ``(2)(A) Award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements 
     to qualified organizations, institutions, or consortia of 
     qualified organizations and institutions, to design, 
     implement, and evaluate fall prevention programs using proven 
     intervention strategies in residential and institutional 
     settings.
       ``(B) Award 1 or more grants, contracts, or cooperative 
     agreements to 1 or more qualified organizations, 
     institutions, or consortia of qualified organizations and 
     institutions, in order to carry out a multistate 
     demonstration project to implement and evaluate fall 
     prevention programs using proven intervention strategies 
     designed for single and multifamily residential settings with 
     high concentrations of older adults, including--
       ``(i) identifying high-risk populations;
       ``(ii) evaluating residential facilities;
       ``(iii) conducting screening to identify high-risk 
     individuals;
       ``(iv) providing fall assessment and risk reduction 
     interventions and counseling;
       ``(v) coordinating services with health care and social 
     service providers; and
       ``(vi) coordinating post-fall treatment and rehabilitation.
       ``(3) Award 1 or more grants, contracts, or cooperative 
     agreements to qualified organizations, institutions, or 
     consortia of qualified organizations and institutions, to 
     conduct evaluations of the effectiveness of the demonstration 
     projects described in this subsection.
       ``(d) Study of Effects of Falls on Health Care Costs.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may conduct a review of 
     the effects of falls on health care costs, the potential for 
     reducing falls, and the most effective strategies for 
     reducing health care costs associated with falls.
       ``(2) Report.--If the Secretary conducts the review under 
     paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, not later than 36 months 
     after the date of enactment of the Safety of Seniors Act of 
     2007, submit to Congress a report describing the findings of 
     the Secretary in conducting such review.''.

     SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       Section 394A of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
     280b-3) is amended by striking ``$50,000,000'' and all that 
     follows through the period and inserting ``$58,361,000 for 
     fiscal year 2008, and such sums as may be necessary for each 
     of fiscal years 2009 and 2010.''.

  Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment 
at the desk be considered and agreed to, the committee-reported 
substitute, as amended, be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read 
three times, passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the 
table; that any statements be printed in the Record, without 
intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 2622) was agreed to, as follows:

                (Purpose: In the nature of a substitute)

       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Safety of Seniors Act of 
     2007''.

     SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT.

       Part J of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 
     U.S.C. 280b et seq.) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating section 393B (as added by section 1401 
     of Public Law 106-386) as section 393C and transferring such 
     section so that it appears after section 393B (as added by 
     section 1301 of Public Law 106-310); and
       (2) by inserting after section 393C (as redesignated by 
     paragraph (1)) the following:

     ``SEC. 393D. PREVENTION OF FALLS AMONG OLDER ADULTS.

       ``(a) Public Education.--The Secretary may--
       ``(1) oversee and support a national education campaign to 
     be carried out by a nonprofit organization with experience in 
     designing and implementing national injury prevention 
     programs, that is directed principally to older adults, their 
     families, and health care providers, and that focuses on 
     reducing falls among older adults and preventing repeat 
     falls; and
       ``(2) award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to 
     qualified organizations, institutions, or consortia of 
     qualified organizations and institutions, specializing, or 
     demonstrating expertise, in falls or fall prevention, for the 
     purpose of organizing State-level coalitions of appropriate 
     State and local agencies, safety, health, senior citizen, and 
     other organizations to design and carry out local education 
     campaigns, focusing on reducing falls among older adults and 
     preventing repeat falls.
       ``(b) Research.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may--
       ``(A) conduct and support research to--
       ``(i) improve the identification of older adults who have a 
     high risk of falling;
       ``(ii) improve data collection and analysis to identify 
     fall risk and protective factors;
       ``(iii) design, implement, and evaluate the most effective 
     fall prevention interventions;
       ``(iv) improve strategies that are proven to be effective 
     in reducing falls by tailoring these strategies to specific 
     populations of older adults;
       ``(v) conduct research in order to maximize the 
     dissemination of proven, effective fall prevention 
     interventions;
       ``(vi) intensify proven interventions to prevent falls 
     among older adults;
       ``(vii) improve the diagnosis, treatment, and 
     rehabilitation of elderly fall victims and older adults at 
     high risk for falls; and
       ``(viii) assess the risk of falls occurring in various 
     settings;
       ``(B) conduct research concerning barriers to the adoption 
     of proven interventions with respect to the prevention of 
     falls among older adults;
       ``(C) conduct research to develop, implement, and evaluate 
     the most effective approaches to reducing falls among high-
     risk older adults living in communities and long-term care 
     and assisted living facilities; and
       ``(D) evaluate the effectiveness of community programs 
     designed to prevent falls among older adults.
       ``(2) Educational support.--The Secretary, either directly 
     or through awarding grants, contracts, or cooperative 
     agreements to qualified organizations, institutions, or 
     consortia of qualified organizations and institutions, 
     specializing, or demonstrating expertise, in falls or fall 
     prevention, may provide professional education for physicians 
     and allied health professionals, and aging service providers 
     in fall prevention, evaluation, and management.
       ``(c) Demonstration Projects.--The Secretary may carry out 
     the following:
       ``(1) Oversee and support demonstration and research 
     projects to be carried out by qualified organizations, 
     institutions, or consortia of qualified organizations and 
     institutions, specializing, or demonstrating expertise, in 
     falls or fall prevention, in the following areas:
       ``(A) A multistate demonstration project assessing the 
     utility of targeted fall risk screening and referral 
     programs.
       ``(B) Programs designed for community-dwelling older adults 
     that utilize multicomponent fall intervention approaches, 
     including physical activity, medication assessment and 
     reduction when possible, vision enhancement, and home 
     modification strategies.
       ``(C) Programs that are targeted to new fall victims who 
     are at a high risk for second

[[Page S10678]]

     falls and which are designed to maximize independence and 
     quality of life for older adults, particularly those older 
     adults with functional limitations.
       ``(D) Private sector and public-private partnerships to 
     develop technologies to prevent falls among older adults and 
     prevent or reduce injuries if falls occur.
       ``(2)(A) Award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements 
     to qualified organizations, institutions, or consortia of 
     qualified organizations and institutions, specializing, or 
     demonstrating expertise, in falls or fall prevention, to 
     design, implement, and evaluate fall prevention programs 
     using proven intervention strategies in residential and 
     institutional settings.
       ``(B) Award 1 or more grants, contracts, or cooperative 
     agreements to 1 or more qualified organizations, 
     institutions, or consortia of qualified organizations and 
     institutions, specializing, or demonstrating expertise, in 
     falls or fall prevention, in order to carry out a multistate 
     demonstration project to implement and evaluate fall 
     prevention programs using proven intervention strategies 
     designed for single and multifamily residential settings with 
     high concentrations of older adults, including--
       ``(i) identifying high-risk populations;
       ``(ii) evaluating residential facilities;
       ``(iii) conducting screening to identify high-risk 
     individuals;
       ``(iv) providing fall assessment and risk reduction 
     interventions and counseling;
       ``(v) coordinating services with health care and social 
     service providers; and
       ``(vi) coordinating post-fall treatment and rehabilitation.
       ``(3) Award 1 or more grants, contracts, or cooperative 
     agreements to qualified organizations, institutions, or 
     consortia of qualified organizations and institutions, 
     specializing, or demonstrating expertise, in falls or fall 
     prevention, to conduct evaluations of the effectiveness of 
     the demonstration projects described in this subsection.
       ``(d) Priority.--In awarding grants, contracts, or 
     cooperative agreements under this section, the Secretary may 
     give priority to entities that explore the use of cost-
     sharing with respect to activities funded under the grant, 
     contract, or agreement to ensure the institutional commitment 
     of the recipients of such assistance to the projects funded 
     under the grant, contract, or agreement. Such non-Federal 
     cost sharing contributions may be provided directly or 
     through donations from public or private entities and may be 
     in cash or in-kind, fairly evaluated, including plant, 
     equipment, or services.
       ``(e) Study of Effects of Falls on Health Care Costs.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may conduct a review of 
     the effects of falls on health care costs, the potential for 
     reducing falls, and the most effective strategies for 
     reducing health care costs associated with falls.
       ``(2) Report.--If the Secretary conducts the review under 
     paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, not later than 36 months 
     after the date of enactment of the Safety of Seniors Act of 
     2007, submit to Congress a report describing the findings of 
     the Secretary in conducting such review.''.

  The committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, as amended, 
was agreed to.
  The bill (S. 845), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a 
third reading, was read the third time, and passed.

                          ____________________