This bill extends funding for the program supporting small medical practices and providers in underserved and rural areas participating in Medicare's Quality Payment Program through fiscal year 2031.
Melanie Stansbury
Representative
NM-1
This bill, the Small Practice, Underserved, and Rural Support Program Extension Act of 2026, extends crucial funding for the Quality Payment Program-Small Practice, Underserved, and Rural Support program. This extension ensures continued support for small medical practices and providers serving in underserved and rural communities. The funding authorization is extended through fiscal year 2031.
SURS Extension Act Secures Medicare Support Funding for Rural and Small Practices Through 2031
The SURS Extension Act of 2026 ensures that small-town clinics and solo practitioners don’t get left behind by the digital and administrative demands of modern healthcare. Specifically, Section 2 of the bill amends the Social Security Act to authorize continued funding for the Quality Payment Program-Small Practice, Underserved, and Rural Support (SURS) program for five additional years, stretching from fiscal year 2026 through 2031. This program is essentially a technical lifeline, providing the training and guidance necessary for smaller providers to navigate Medicare’s complex 'Quality Payment Program'—the system that determines how much they get paid based on performance and patient outcomes.
A Technical Lifeline for Local Clinics
For a doctor running a two-person clinic in a rural county, keeping up with Medicare’s reporting requirements can feel like a second full-time job. Under the Quality Payment Program, providers have to track specific data points to prove they are giving high-quality care, or they risk financial penalties. This bill extends the funding for specialized consultants who help these small offices manage that paperwork and implement the right technology. Without this support, a local family physician might find the administrative costs of Medicare so high that they’re forced to stop seeing Medicare patients or sell their practice to a large hospital conglomerate.
Keeping Care Close to Home
The real-world impact hits hardest for patients in underserved areas who don't want to drive two hours for a check-up. By authorizing this funding through 2031, the bill aims to stabilize the financial health of small practices that serve as the backbone of rural healthcare. It means the independent pediatrician in a low-income neighborhood or the general practitioner in a remote mountain town can afford to stay in the Medicare system. Because the bill is highly specific about its dates and funding targets, it provides a clear, long-term runway for these providers to plan their budgets and keep their doors open to the community.