Rural Policy Brief. Medicare Physician Payment: Impacts of Changes on Rural Physicians (Volume 11, Number 2, September 2006)

This policy brief presents findings on the effects of the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 on rural physician payment rates. It examines the impact of increases in the geographic practice cost index for work expense; effects of the Medicare incentive payment for providing services in shortage areas; and the bonus for practicing in physician scarcity areas. The policy brief includes tables and references.