January 15, 2026
Mr. Sullivan introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to increase the floor for the practice expense and work geographic indices for certain areas.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Rural Underpayment Remedy through Adjusted Local Rate Act
or the RURAL Rate Act
.
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—
(1)
in the second sentence—
(A)
by inserting and before January 1, 2026,
after January 1, 2009,
; and
(B)
by inserting a period at the end; and
(2)
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.
.