Concentrating on High-value Alzheimer's Needs to Get to an End (CHANGE) Act of 2019

To provide better care and outcomes for Americans living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and their caregivers, while accelerating progress toward prevention strategies, disease modifying treatments, and, ultimately, a cure. 1. Short title; table of contents; findings (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Concentrating on High-value Alzheimer’s Needs to Get to an End (CHANGE) Act of 2019 (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents; findings. Sec. 2. Cognitive impairment detection benefit in the Medicare annual wellness visit and initial preventive physical examination. Sec. 3. Medicare quality payment program. Sec. 4. Report to Congress on implementation. (c) Findings Congress finds the following: (1) It is estimated that 5,800,000 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease in 2019. This includes an estimated 5,600,000 million people age 65 and older and approximately 200,000 individuals under age 65 who have younger-onset Alzheimer's. By 2050, the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s dementia is projected to increase to 13,800,000 Americans. (2) As many as half of the estimated 5,100,000 American seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias have never received a diagnosis. (3) In 2019, it is expected that Alzheimer’s and related dementias will cost Medicare and Medicaid $195,000,000,000. By 2050, it is estimated that overall Alzheimer’s costs will increase to more than $1,100,000,000,000. (4) Alzheimer’s exacts an emotional and physical toll on caregivers, resulting in higher incidence of heart disease, cancer, depression, and other health consequences. (5) Alzheimer’s disease disproportionately impacts women and people of color. Women are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's as they are breast cancer. African Americans are about 2 times more likely than White Americans to have Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Latinos are about 1 1/2 (6) The latest science reveals there are actions that can be taken both now and across the lifespan of an individual to help optimize brain health, reduce the risk of cognitive decline, and help mitigate symptoms. There are also important behavioral and social dimensions that could delay cognitive decline and build a resilient brain. For example, a 2016 study supported by the National Institutes of Health found that a diet high in natural plant-based foods and limited in saturated fats was associated with reduced cognitive decline. A 2017 study published by the Lancet Commission found that physical activity had a significant protective effect against cognitive decline. A study supported by the National Institutes of Health which was published in 2018 found a connection between lower blood pressure and decreased cognitive impairment. An American Academy of Neurology study recently published found that physical activity and cognitive activity were both associated with reduced risk of total dementia. (7) There are evidence-based, reliable, and National Institutes of Health-identified cognitive impairment detection tools that are available on the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resources website of the National Institute on Aging that must replace detection by direct observation in the Medicare Annual visits and Welcome to Medicare visits. The National Institutes of Health-identified tools will allow for appropriate follow-up instead of delaying diagnosis or impeding opportunities for patients to access timely treatment options, including clinical trial participation. (8) 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 the ability of patients to build a care team, participate in support services, and enroll in clinical trials. (9) African Americans represent 13 percent of the United States population, but only 5 percent of clinical trial participants, and Latinos represent 17 percent of the United States population, but less than 1 percent of clinical trial participants. Further, Latinos and African Americans account for only 3.5 percent and 1.2 percent, respectively, of principal investigators supported by the National Institutes of Health funding, limiting this perspective in research. Better recruitment and trial designs are critical to addressing innovation in Alzheimer’s generally, including the underrepresentation of African Americans and Latinos. (10) Inability to identify eligible patients at the earliest stages of disease is a substantial impediment to efficient research toward Alzheimer’s disease prevention, treatment, and cure. (11) Advancing treatment options to prevent, treat, or cure Alzheimer’s is an urgent national priority. (12) A paradigm shift to drive synergies between high-value patient care, caregiver support, brain health promotion, and research initiatives is our best hope for preventing, treating, and curing Alzheimer’s disease. 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) (A) by striking subparagraph (D) and inserting the following: (D) Detection of any cognitive impairment or progression of cognitive impairment that shall— (i) be performed using a cognitive impairment detection tool identified by the National Institute on Aging as meeting its criteria for selecting instruments to detect cognitive impairment in the primary care setting, and other validated cognitive detection tools as the Secretary determines; (ii) include documentation of the tool used for detecting cognitive impairment and results of the assessment in the medical record of the patient; and (iii) take into consideration the tool used, and results of, any previously performed cognitive impairment detection assessment. ; (B) by moving subparagraphs (G) and (H) two ems to the left; (C) by redesignating subparagraph (I) as subparagraph (J); and (D) by inserting after subparagraph (H) the following new subparagraph: (I) Referral of patients with detected cognitive impairment or potential cognitive decline to— (i) appropriate Alzheimer’s disease and dementia diagnostic services, including amyloid positron emission tomography, and other medically accepted diagnostic tests that the Secretary determines are safe and effective; (ii) specialists and other clinicians with expertise in diagnosing or treating Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias; (iii) available community-based services, including patient and caregiver counseling and social support services; and (iv) appropriate clinical trials. . (2) Effective date The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall apply to annual wellness visits furnished on or after January 1, 2020. (b) Initial preventive physical examination (1) In general Section 1861(ww)(1) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x(ww)(1) detection of any cognitive impairment or progression of cognitive impairment as described in subparagraph (D) of subsection (hhh)(2) and referrals as described in subparagraph (I) of such subsection, upon the agreement with the individual, (2) Effective date The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall apply to initial preventive physical examinations furnished on or after January 1, 2020. 3. Medicare quality payment program Not later than January 1, 2020, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall implement Medicare policies under title XVIII of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395 (1) promoting healthy brain lifestyle choices; (2) identifying and responding to patient risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias; and (3) incentivizing providers for— (A) adequate and reliable cognitive impairment detection in the primary care setting, that is documented in the electronic health record of the patient and communicated to the patient; (B) timely Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis; and (C) appropriate care planning services, including identification of, and communication with patients and caregivers regarding, the potential for clinical trial participation. 4. Report to Congress on implementation Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to Congress a report on the implementation of the provisions of, and amendments made by, this Act, including— (1) the increased use of validated tools for detection of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease; (2) utilization of Alzheimer’s disease diagnostic and care planning services; and (3) outreach efforts in the primary care and patient communities.

Summary: Concentrating on High-value Alzheimer's Needs to Get to an End (CHANGE) Act of 2019 This bill modifies the requirements under Medicare for diagnosing and treating Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive impairments in older adults. Specifically, the bill expands the cognitive impairment detection benefit during annual wellness visits to require the use of validated detection tools and documentation of the results in the patient's medical record. Further, when a cognitive impairment is detected, the patient must be referred to an appropriate diagnostic service provider and other specified supports. Additionally, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services must implement Medicare policies that increase the identification and response to patients' Alzheimer's disease risk factors and incentivize providers to utilize high-quality cognitive impairment diagnosis practices.