Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Rural Underpayment Remedy through Adjusted Local Rate Act” or the “RURAL Rate Act”.
Rural Underpayment Remedy through Adjusted Local Rate Act
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to increase the floor for the practice expense and work geographic indices for certain areas.
Sec. 2 Increase of the floor for practice expense and work geographic indices for certain areas
Section 1848(e)(1)(G) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(e)(1)(G)) is amended—
in the second sentence—
by inserting “and before January 1, 2026,” after “January 1, 2009,”; and
by inserting a period at the end; and
by adding at the end the following new sentence: “For purposes of payment for services furnished in the State described in the first sentence on or after January 1, 2026, after calculating the practice expense and work geographic indices in clauses (i) and (iii) of subparagraph (A) and in subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall increase either such index to 1.67 if such index would otherwise be less than 1.67.”.