Small medical practices in rural and underserved communities rely on a federal support program that helps them navigate Medicare's complex performance-based payment system. The SURS program — short for Small Practice, Underserved, and Rural Support — provides technical assistance and scoring protections so clinics with fewer resources aren't penalized in the Quality Payment Program, which determines how Medicare reimburses doctors. The SURS Extension Act extends that program through fiscal year 2031, preventing it from expiring and giving small rural practices five more years of support. Without the extension, clinics in areas where doctors are already scarce could face steeper Medicare payment reductions due to lower performance scores, potentially reducing patient access to care.
Congressional Summary
Small Practice, Underserved, and Rural Support Program Extension Act of 2023 or the SURS Extension ActThis bill reauthorizes funds through FY2031 for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to contract with specified entities (e.g., quality improvement organizations) to provide technical assistance regarding the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and alternative payment models under Medicare, specifically for health professionals in practices with 15 or fewer professionals. (MIPS is an incentive program under Medicare that allows health professionals to receive payment adjustments based on certain performance measures.)
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2026-05-21
- Date Added
- 2026-06-30
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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