Work geographic floor adjustment for high inflationary years

(a) In general Section 1848(e)(1)(E) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(e)(1)(E)) is amended— (1) by striking the header and inserting Work geographic index; (2) by striking After calculating and inserting the following: (i) In general After calculating; (3) in clause (i) (as so inserted)— (A) by inserting (or 1.025, in the case such year is a high inflationary year (as defined in clause (iii))) after to 1.00; and (B) by striking 2027 and inserting 2032; and (4) by adding at the end the following new clauses: (ii) Increase in high inflationary years for other localities After calculating the work geographic index in subparagraph (A)(iii), for purposes of payment for services furnished on or after January 1, 2027, and before January 1, 2033, the Secretary shall increase the work geographic index by.02 points if such year is a high inflationary year, unless such work geographic index is subject to an increase under clause (i) for such year. (iii) Definition In this subparagraph, the term high inflationary year means a year if, over the 12-month period ending on the last day of the preceding year, the consumer price index for all urban consumers (U.S. city average) increased by more than 2 percent. (iv) Publication Medicare administrative contractors shall publish the geographically adjusted work relative value units for both the inflation adjustments under clauses (i) and (ii) and the work geographic adjustment for all services on a quarterly basis effective January 1, 2027, for each of their geographic areas.. (b) Report Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate a study on the economic factors that are impacting physician choice, by specialty, regarding the geographic area in which such physicians choose to practice, including salaries, contract terms, cost of living, availability of capital, volume of services, and costs to conduct a practice.