The federal government is rewriting the roadmap for Alzheimer's care through 2035, and the public comment window that shaped it closed on August 15, 2026. HHS collected input through a formal public comment process, listening sessions, and advisory council testimony before finalizing a new National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease, expected in late 2026, under HHS's own planning document. For Medicare families managing a dementia diagnosis right now, the plan update matters less as a document to read than as a signal of where support is headed — and it arrives alongside a current program, the GUIDE Model, that already pays for caregiver help. This checklist separates what happened in the public input process from what a family can act on today.
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Official resources:
- Register through Govinfo’s official page — Use this page to review requirements and register directly.
- Read the official notice from Hhs — Use this primary source to verify the official announcement.
Table of Contents
- What triggered this update to the National Alzheimer's Plan
- Who gave input, and what they asked for
- Why oversight groups say the stakes are higher this time
- What's available to Medicare families right now, separate from the plan
- What to track as the final plan is released
- Frequently Asked Questions
What triggered this update to the National Alzheimer's Plan
The National Alzheimer's Project Act originally set federal dementia strategy on a shorter timeline, but Public Law 118-92, passed in 2024, extended that law through 2035 and created the legal basis for the current rewrite, according to HHS/ASPE's summary of the law. That extension is why HHS is producing a new plan covering 2026 through 2035 rather than simply renewing the old one.
To build that plan, HHS opened a formal Request for Information under docket HHS-ASPE-2026-0298, with public comments due August 15, 2026, as described in HHS/ASPE's RFI announcement. A Request for Information is a formal federal mechanism agencies use to gather public comment before writing policy; it does not itself carry the force of a rule, but it feeds directly into the plan HHS releases afterward.
Who gave input, and what they asked for
Beyond written comments, HHS ran five listening sessions with roughly 250 participants, including people living with Alzheimer's or related dementias, family caregivers, and care providers. Those sessions surfaced recurring priorities: caregiver support, provider education, and dementia workforce shortages, according to HHS/ASPE's August 2026 summary of the sessions. The National Alzheimer's Project Act Advisory Council also took public testimony on the update at its February 9, 2026 meeting in Washington, D.C.
Speakers were capped at two minutes each and had to register in advance, per the Federal Register notice announcing that meeting. National advocacy groups weighed in formally as well. The Alzheimer's Association, together with its advocacy affiliate AIM, filed a detailed RFI response dated August 14, 2026, and LeadingAge, which represents nonprofit aging-services providers, filed comments the following day. Both pushed for more funding for dementia services, dementia-specific workforce training, and expanded caregiver support, according to the Alzheimer's Association/AIM response and LeadingAge's own comments.
Why oversight groups say the stakes are higher this time
A June 2026 review by the Government Accountability Office found that HHS still lacks near-term goals with numerical targets, firm deadlines, and clear progress reporting under the existing National Plan. That gap is one reason oversight groups are watching the 2026-2035 update closely, since it touches programs that reach Medicare beneficiaries, according to reporting on the GAO review.
In practice, that means the new plan's value to families will depend on whether it sets measurable commitments rather than broad goals. A plan with firm deadlines and numbers attached is one Congress and advocacy groups can hold HHS to; a plan without them is harder to track and easier to quietly miss.
What's available to Medicare families right now, separate from the plan
While the new National Plan is still being finalized, one current Medicare program already pays for dementia caregiver support. The GUIDE Model is an eight-year voluntary test that CMS began on July 1, 2024. Enrolled Part B providers are paid to supply care navigators, 24/7 caregiver help lines, caregiver training, and respite services at no cost to the beneficiary, according to CMS's description of the model.
LeadingAge reports that low awareness among both families and physicians is the single biggest barrier to enrollment. To address that, CMS released an explainer video on September 21, 2026, directing families to a locator tool for participating programs, according to LeadingAge's coverage of the CMS awareness push. A practical checklist for a family managing a Medicare recipient's dementia diagnosis:.
- Ask the person's primary care or neurology provider directly whether their practice participates in the GUIDE Model — participation is voluntary, so not every provider is enrolled.
- Use the CMS-directed locator tool referenced in the September 2026 awareness video to search for participating programs near the beneficiary.
- If enrolled, ask what the program includes: a dedicated care navigator, access to a 24/7 caregiver help line, structured caregiver training, and respite care are all part of the model at no cost to the beneficiary.
- Do not wait for the new National Plan to seek this support — GUIDE is active now and runs independently of the 2026-2035 plan's release timeline.
What to track as the final plan is released
As of the most recent documents available, HHS has not published a finalized 2026-2035 National Plan. The agency's own timeline still points to a late-2026 release, so the practical step for families today is to track the outcome of the RFI process rather than respond to a completed plan, according to HHS/ASPE's national plans page.
When the plan does publish, the GAO's criticism gives a concrete test to apply to it: does it include specific numerical targets and deadlines, or only general priorities like the ones raised in listening sessions and advocacy comments. That distinction will determine whether the issues families and caregivers raised during the comment period translate into programs with accountability behind them, or into language without a tracking mechanism.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the public comment period for the 2026-2035 National Alzheimer's Plan still open?
No. The Request for Information under docket HHS-ASPE-2026-0298 closed on August 15, 2026, though HHS has not yet published the finalized plan.
Does a family need to wait for the new National Plan to get caregiver support through Medicare?
No. The GUIDE Model has been active since July 1, 2024, and provides care navigation, caregiver training, a 24/7 help line, and respite services now, independent of when the new plan releases.
Who formally commented on the plan update besides individual members of the public?
The Alzheimer's Association and its advocacy affiliate AIM, and separately LeadingAge, both filed formal written comments in August 2026 urging more funding, workforce training, and caregiver support.
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