RURAL Rate Act

This bill proposes to amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to adjust Medicare payment calculations for certain areas, aiming to remedy underpayment. Its primary purpose is to establish a higher minimum for the geographic practice expense and work indices used in determining physician payments. Specifically, for services provided on or after January 1, 2026, the legislation mandates that the Secretary of Health and Human Services increase either the practice expense geographic index or the work geographic index to 1.67 if the calculated index would otherwise be lower. This provision targets specific regions, likely rural, by ensuring a more equitable reimbursement rate for healthcare providers. By setting a new floor of 1.67, the bill seeks to improve financial stability for medical practices in these areas.