Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC)

Anonymous nurse and a doctor wearing masks talking at the hospital reception desk

Supporting and evaluating physician-generated ideas for improving care and lowering costs

Client

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
Dates

2018 – Present

Problem

Current payment approaches fail to deliver high-quality, cost-effective health care.

CMS is striving for payment reform in Medicare, promoting value-based care that pays physicians for high-quality care and positive patient health outcomes rather than delivery of services. The CMS Innovation Center tests alternative payment models for the Medicare population. Progress has been made but much work remains to be done to transform health care in the United States. Effective alternative payment models are needed to ensure patients receive the highest quality health care at the lowest cost.

Solution

NORC facilitates rigorous consideration of new alternative payment models.

Congress created PTAC in 2015 to solicit proposals from stakeholders and make recommendations to the Secretary of HHS regarding novel approaches to Medicare payment. PTAC has received dozens of proposals and explored numerous underlying value-based care topics, including care coordination, performance measurement, specialty integration, rural participation, multi-payer alignment, and patient empowerment.

In 2018, HHS awarded NORC at the University of Chicago a contract to provide a broad range of services to support PTAC’s work.

NORC provides technical support to PTAC by analyzing stakeholder-submitted proposals, conducting claims-based and literature-based research, and identifying experts in value-based care so that PTAC members can make informed recommendations. NORC also prepares written policy reports on PTAC’s activities and deliberations for officials at HHS.
NORC provides logistical support to PTAC, as a FACA Committee, by coordinating hybrid (in person and virtual) quarterly public meetings, handling compliance with regulatory and administrative rules, and preparing public materials for the Committee’s federal website.

Result

NORC’s rigorous analyses identify avenues for transformational health system change.

NORC’s assessments of alternative payment model proposals as well as key themes raised across proposals provide vital information and fresh perspectives to PTAC on ways to improve Medicare payment policy. This information has the potential to help transform health care by improving quality, lowering costs, and increasing patient and caregiver satisfaction.

Learn More About the Project

PTAC’s recommendations and a full library of associated reports and analysis are available on the ASPE PTAC website.

opens in new tab Visit ASPE Site

PTAC Public Meeting

Next Meeting Date: September 14-15, 2026

Members of the public may view, listen, or participate in the meeting in four ways: in-person, livestream, dial-in only, or as a public commenter. Visit ASPE's PTAC website for more information.

opens in new tab PTAC Meeting Information