119th (2025–2027)
H.R. 9823
The Alzheimer's Early Detection Act of 2026 requires private health insurance plans and Medicaid to cover Alzheimer's biomarker testing, which includes blood tests and other diagnostic procedures used to detect, diagnose, and monitor Alzheimer's disease. The bill applies to all group health plans, individual health insurance policies, and state Medicaid programs, ensuring that people with insurance have access to these early detection tests. Insurance companies cannot impose stricter cost-sharing or prior authorization requirements for these tests than they do for other medical procedures, and they must approve or deny authorization requests within 24 to 72 hours. The coverage requirements take effect one year after the bill becomes law for private insurance and one year after enactment for Medicaid. Additionally, the National Institutes of Health must conduct a study through the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to assess the effectiveness of biomarker testing in detecting and treating Alzheimer's disease, with reports due annually for three years.