How does the Affordable Health Care for America Act of 2009 help rural communities?
The Affordable Health Care for America Act of 2009 addresses rural payment disparities by directing the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to study geographic inequities in Medicare reimbursement rates and directs the Secretary to revise payment rates based on the IOM’s findings. The Affordable Health Care for America Act of 2009 provides bonuses to reward primary care doctors that practice in shortage areas. Only 9 percent of physicians practice in rural America even though 20 percent of the population lives in these areas. The bill provides a 10 percent incentive payment for primary care doctors practicing in underserved areas, which, combined with a current bonus for physicians in shortage areas, will help recruit and retain primary care physicians where they are needed most.
