Anthem Inc. (NYSE:ANTM) is helping to put its muscle behind keeping older Americans from falling.
The health insurance giant included fall prevention screening on a new list of seven screenings it recommends for older adults.
In addition to recommending fall screenings, the company is recommending that older Americans talk to their doctors about screenings for diabetes, obesity, colorectal cancer, osteoporosis, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Anthem says a thorough fall prevention screening should include a balance check, a vision check, and a medication review. Patients who appear to be at a high risk of falling should consider modifying their homes to reduce the risk of falling there, the company says.
The National Council on Aging and the organizers of the recent White House Conference on Aging raised the profile of fall prevention as a health issue in April, by sponsoring a one-day falls prevention summit in Washington.