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.

This bill would add a simple memory and thinking check to Medicare’s yearly wellness visit and the first “Welcome to Medicare” exam. Doctors would have to use a screening tool identified by the National Institute on Aging and record which tool they used and the results in the patient’s chart. These changes would start January 1, 2026.

Lawmakers say this matters because millions of Americans live with Alzheimer’s today, with numbers expected to rise. The bill notes higher risks for some groups, the heavy toll on families, and very high costs. It also says that an early, documented diagnosis helps people get care plans, support, and treatments sooner.

• Who is affected: People on Medicare and their primary care providers.
• What changes: Add a brief cognitive check using a tool identified by the National Institute on Aging; the tool and results must be documented in the medical record.
• When: Applies to visits on or after January 1, 2026.