Bills · S 1799
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 1799Health
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 preventative physical examination.
INTRO MAY 19· LAST ACTION MAY 19
READING
4MIN
COSPONSORS
2
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because cognitive conditions like Alzheimer's disease are common and growing, and catching them early can significantly improve a person's quality of life and care options. Currently, cognitive assessment during Medicare visits can be inconsistent, but this bill would require a standardized approach. If this bill becomes law, more people might get an earlier diagnosis of cognitive impairment, allowing them and their families to plan for care, explore treatments, and access support services sooner.
Without this bill, cognitive assessments might remain less structured, potentially leading to missed or delayed diagnoses. Early detection can reduce the emotional and financial strain on families by enabling proactive management of the condition. It also has the potential to help reduce long-term healthcare costs by delaying the progression of some forms of dementia through early intervention and management of modifiable risk factors.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Requires a specific cognitive impairment detection for the Medicare annual wellness visit.
This ensures a standardized approach to checking for memory and thinking problems during yearly check-ups for older adults.
PROVISION 02
Requires a specific cognitive impairment detection for the Medicare initial preventive physical examination.
This means new Medicare enrollees will also receive a structured cognitive assessment right from their first preventive exam.
PROVISION 03
Mandates the use of cognitive impairment detection tools identified by the National Institute on Aging (NIA).
This ensures that healthcare providers use scientifically validated and appropriate tools for screening in a primary care setting.
PROVISION 04
Requires documentation of the tool used and the assessment results in the patient's medical record.
This creates a clear record for tracking cognitive health over time and ensures accountability for the assessment.
PROVISION 05
Sets an effective date of January 1, 2026, for these new requirements.
This provides healthcare systems and providers time to prepare and implement the new standardized screening procedures.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 2
R· West Virginia
YRS IN OFFICE
25
BILLS LED
28
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 2 REP 0 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSMAY 19
Introduced in Senate
MAY 19
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
BILL INFO
TypeSenate Bill
NumberS 1799
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedMay 19, 2025
Last actionMay 19, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · FINANCE COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED MAY 19, 2025
Senate BillS 1799Health
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 preventative physical examination.
INTRODUCED MAY 19, 2025· LAST ACTION MAY 19, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
4 min
COSPONSORS
2
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
