HRS Reviewing Draft Legislation on Physician Payment Reform

October 1, 2024 – In mid-September 2024, the office of U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, MD (R-TX) shared with HRS and other medical societies draft legislation to establish reforms to the structure, responsibility, and governance of the Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee (PTAC).

PTAC is an independent federal advisory group that reviews and makes recommendations to CMS on physician-focused payment models. PTAC’s structure has long been criticized as inefficient, lacking technical assistance and support, and providing CMS with the flexibility to ignore PTAC recommendations.

Although PTAC has considered more than 30 models and recommended several, CMS has not tested or implemented a single PTAC model to date. The draft legislation aims to provide better direction, transparency, and accountability while preserving the physician voice in the design, development, and implementation of payment models. HRS is currently reviewing the draft legislation and determining whether to provide feedback.