[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3501 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3501
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for certain
cognitive impairment detection in the Medicare annual wellness visit
and initial preventive physical examination.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 19, 2025
Ms. Sanchez (for herself, Mr. LaHood, Ms. Matsui, and Mr. Bilirakis)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and
Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for certain
cognitive impairment detection in the Medicare annual wellness visit
and initial preventive physical examination.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) It is estimated that 6.9 million Americans are living
with Alzheimer's disease, a number that is estimated to rise to
nearly 13.8 million by 2060. About one in eleven people age 65
and older has Alzheimer's.
(2) Older Black Americans are twice as likely, and Latino
Americans are one and one-half times as likely, to have
Alzheimer's disease than older White Americans. Nearly two-
thirds of Americans with Alzheimer's disease are women.
(3) Alzheimer's disease is the fifth-leading cause of death
in America among Americans aged 65 and older.
(4) Between 2000 and 2021, deaths from stroke, heart
disease and HIV decreased, whereas reported deaths from AD
increased more than 140 percent.
(5) Addressing modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer's and
other dementias such as hypertension, physical inactivity,
smoking, depression, diabetes, obesity, and poor nutrition
might prevent or delay up to 40 percent of dementia cases. In
2021 the National Plan to Addresses Alzheimer's disease was
updated to include a new goal to focus on reducing risk of
developing dementia.
(6) An early, documented diagnosis, communicated to the
patient and caregiver, enables early access to care planning
services and available medical and nonmedical treatments, and
optimizes patients' ability to build a care team, participate
in support services, and enroll in clinical trials.
(7) Alzheimer's exacts an emotional and physical toll on
caregivers, resulting in higher incidence of heart disease,
cancer, depression, and other health consequences.
(8) More than 11.5 million Americans provide unpaid care
for people with Alzheimer's or other dementia and provided
nearly $347 billion in unpaid care to people living with
Alzheimer's and other dementias in 2023.
(9) In 2024, it is estimated that Alzheimer's and related
dementias will cost our nation $360 billion, not including the
value of unpaid caregiving. By 2050, it is estimated that these
direct costs will increase to nearly $1.1 trillion.
(10) Medicare and Medicaid are expected to cover nearly
$231 billion, only about 64 percent of the total healthcare and
long-term payments for people with Alzheimer's or dementia.
Out-of-pocket spending is expected to be about $91 billion, or
about 25 percent of total payments.
SEC. 2. COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT DETECTION BENEFIT IN THE MEDICARE ANNUAL
WELLNESS VISIT AND INITIAL PREVENTIVE PHYSICAL
EXAMINATION.
(a) Annual Wellness Visit.--
(1) In general.--Section 1861(hhh)(2) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(hhh)(2)) is amended by striking
subparagraph (D) and inserting the following:
``(D) Detection of any cognitive impairment that
shall--
``(i) be performed using one of the
cognitive impairment detection tools identified
by the National Institute on Aging as meeting
its criteria for selecting instruments to
detect cognitive impairment in the primary care
setting; and
``(ii) include documentation of the tool
used for detecting cognitive impairment and
results of the assessment in the patient's
medical record.''.
(2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1)
shall apply to annual wellness visits furnished on or after
January 1, 2026.
(b) Initial Preventive Physical Examination.--
(1) In general.--Section 1861(ww)(1) of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(ww)(1)) is amended by striking ``agreement
with the individual, and'' and inserting ``agreement with the
individual, detection of any cognitive impairment as described
in subsection (hhh)(2)(D), and''.
(2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1)
shall apply to initial preventive physical examinations
furnished on or after January 1, 2026.
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