US Federal House Bill HB3501

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/19/25
• Refer: 5/19/25

Caption

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.

Summary

HB3501 would amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require cognitive impairment detection during two Medicare-covered preventive services: the annual wellness visit and the initial preventive physical examination. For the annual wellness visit, the bill directs that screening be done with a tool identified by the National Institute on Aging as meeting its criteria for detecting cognitive impairment in primary care, and it requires documentation of both the tool used and the results in the patient’s medical record. The same cognitive impairment detection requirement would also be added to the initial preventive physical examination. The bill is framed as an Alzheimer’s and dementia early-detection measure. Its findings cite the growing prevalence and cost of Alzheimer’s disease, disparities in diagnosis and disease burden among Black and Latino Americans and women, and the value of early diagnosis for care planning, treatment access, caregiver support, and clinical trial enrollment. The effective date for both Medicare changes would be January 1, 2026.

Impact

If enacted, the bill would change Medicare preventive care requirements by making cognitive impairment screening a specified component of the annual wellness visit and the initial preventive physical examination. It would affect Medicare beneficiaries, primary care providers, and clinicians furnishing these services by adding a screening and documentation obligation tied to federally recognized detection tools. The bill would amend sections 1861(hhh)(2) and 1861(ww)(1) of the Social Security Act, but it does not create a new standalone benefit or alter Medicaid or private insurance rules.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have generally favorable policy framing, with bipartisan sponsorship from members of both parties and no recorded committee opposition or votes in the provided materials. The findings emphasize public health benefits, cost savings, and improved care for people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, suggesting the measure is intended as a preventive and patient-supportive step. Because there is no transcript or vote history, the available record does not show organized opposition in committee.

Contention

The main potential points of contention are likely to be implementation-related rather than ideological: whether Medicare providers should be required to perform a specific cognitive screening tool, how much additional time and administrative burden documentation will add, and whether clinicians have sufficient training and follow-up resources for positive screens. Another possible concern is the risk of false positives or patient anxiety if screening is added broadly to routine preventive visits. The bill’s supporters appear to prioritize earlier detection and care planning, while any skeptics would likely focus on workflow, reimbursement, and clinical practicality.