Physical therapists can help seniors stay active and independent. And this therapy can also reduce the risk of falls, which lead to more than 30,000 deaths annually.
But proposed federal payment cuts under Medicare threaten the financial stability of physical therapists, says Zach Walston, an Alpharetta-based physical therapist, in a new GHN Commentary.
“Additionally, with the added costs to the health care system created by the pandemic, and the annual cost of treating falls is expected to surpass $100 billion within the next 10 years, preventative measures like physical therapy are urgently needed,’’ Walston writes.