The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 created the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund (PCORTF) to help build the national capacity and infrastructure needed to conduct patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR), and to enable PCOR findings to be integrated into clinical practice. The ultimate aim of these efforts is to allow patients, providers, and caregivers to make more informed healthcare decisions.
The PCORTF funds three streams of work. The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute receives 80% of the PCORTF to advance the evidence on health outcomes through research. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality receives 16% of the PCORTF to disseminate PCOR research findings, incorporate findings into clinical practice, and train researchers in PCOR. The Office of the Secretary (OS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) receives the remaining 4% of the PCORTF to build data capacity for PCOR.
OS PCORTF funds are made available annually through 2019, with a cumulative estimated total of $140 million. The Secretary of HHS has delegated authority to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) to coordinate and implement a strategic plan to invest these funds effectively.
ASPE convenes a Leadership Council of HHS principals or their designees to develop a strategy for use of these funds and to determine yearly investments
If you have questions or comments please communicate by E-mail to OSPCORTF@HHS.GOV.
