Prof. Stuart Altman (Heller) has been appointed by Gov. Deval Patrick as chair of the newly instituted state Health Policy Commission, an 11-member board that has been charged with "setting health care spending goals and tracking providers' progress toward reducing costs," according to a Nov. 1 article on Boston.com.

"I was very pleased that the governor thought of me to take on this position," Altman, the Sol C. Chaikin Professor of National Health Policy, said in an interview with the Justice.

"What we're trying to do is both lower the ... growth in the cost of health care and do it without hurting the quality of care or access to care, so it's going to be quite an assignment," said Altman.

As stated in a press release from the Governor's office, Altman is a member of the Institute of Medicine and chair of the Health Industry Forum at Brandeis.

According to his profile on the Heller School for Social Policy and Management website, he also served for 12 years as Chairman of the congressionally legislated Prospective Payment Assessment Commission, which "advise[d] Congress and the Administration on the functioning of the Medicare Diagnostic Related Group (DRG) Hospital Payment System and other system reforms."

According to a Nov. 1 BrandeisNOW press release, Altman served as deputy assistant secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare during President Richard Nixon's administration and was a member of both President Bill Clinton's Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare and the health policy team for Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

Altman also served as dean of the Heller School, starting in 1977, and as interim president of the University from 1990 to 1991.

"Dr. Altman's experience in matters of health policy in both the public and private sectors is deep and unparalleled and will be an asset to the Commonwealth in our work to drive health care costs down," said Patrick in a press release. "I thank him for his willingness to serve."

According to Altman, Patrick appoints three of the 11 board members, including the chair. The other eight members are appointed by the attorney general, the state auditor and the head of the Department of Insurance, as well as others. The roles of these other members include consumer advocacy and primary care, said Altman.

According to Boston.com, the board was "created under the state health cost-control law that passed this summer." Altman's role as chair of the board will involve working with its executive director, who is a full-time employee, "to carry out what the law requires," he said.

As stated on Boston.com, "[n]one of the board members may work for hospitals, health plans, or other health care entities in the state." Altman will give up his positions on the board of Tufts Medical Center and with a few other groups in the state.

Even with his position as chair, Altman-who teaches "HS 140: American Health Care" and "HS 513: Issues in National Health Policy"-will not forget about his students at Brandeis. "I hope to use what I learn as the chair of the commission to make my course ... even more relevant," he said.