Establishment of the White House Office of Health Reform

Executive Order 13507 of April 8, 2009

Establishment of the White House Office of Health
Reform

By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, and in the interest of providing all Americans
access to affordable and high-quality health care, it
is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy. Reforming the health care system is
a key goal of my Administration. The health care system
suffers from serious and pervasive problems; access to
health care is constrained by high and rising costs;
and the quality of care is not consistent and must be
improved, in order to improve the health of our
citizens and our economic security.

Sec. 2. Establishment. (a) There is established a White
House Office of Health Reform (Health Reform Office)
within the Executive Office of the President that will
provide leadership to the executive branch in
establishing policies, priorities, and objectives for
the Federal Government's comprehensive effort to
improve access to health care, the quality of such
care, and the sustainability of the health care system.

    (b) The Secretary of Health and Human Services, to
the extent permitted by law, shall establish within the
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) an Office
of Health Reform, which shall coordinate closely with
the White House Office of Health Reform.

Sec. 3. Functions. The principal functions of the
Health Reform Office, to the extent permitted by law,
are to:

    (a) provide leadership for and to coordinate the
development of the Administration's policy agenda
across executive departments and agencies concerning
the provision of high-quality, affordable, and
accessible health care and to slow the growth of health
costs; this shall include coordinating policy
development with the Domestic Policy Council, National
Economic Council, Council of Economic Advisers, Office
of Management and Budget, HHS, Office of Personnel
Management, and such other executive departments and
agencies as the Director of the Health Reform Office
may deem appropriate;
    (b) work with executive departments and agencies to
ensure that Federal Government policy decisions and
programs are consistent with the President's stated
goals with respect to health reform;
    (c) integrate the President's policy agenda
concerning health reform across the Federal Government;
    (d) coordinate public outreach activities conducted
by executive departments and agencies designed to
gather input from the public, from demonstration and
pilot projects, and from public-private partnerships on
the problems and priorities for policy measures
designed to meet the President's goals for improvement
of the health care system;
    (e) bring to the President's attention concerns,
ideas, and policy options for strengthening, increasing
the efficiency, and improving the quality of the health
care system;
    (f) work with State, local, and community
policymakers and public officials to expand coverage,
improve quality and efficiency, and slow the growth of
health costs;

    (g) develop and implement strategic initiatives
under the President's agenda to strengthen the public
agencies and private organizations that can improve the
performance of the health care system;
    (h) work with the Congress and executive
departments and agencies to eliminate unnecessary
legislative, regulatory, and other bureaucratic
barriers that impede effective delivery of efficient
and high-quality health care;
    (i) monitor implementation of the President's
agenda on health reform; and
    (j) help ensure that policymakers across the
executive branch work toward the President's health
care agenda.

Sec. 4. Administration. (a) The Health Reform Office
may work with established or ad hoc committees, task
forces, or interagency groups.

    (b) The Health Reform Office shall have a staff
headed by the Director of the Health Reform Office
(Director). The Health Reform Office shall have such
staff and other assistance as may be necessary to carry
out the provisions of this order.
    (c) As requested by the Director, each executive
department and agency shall designate a liaison to work
with the Health Reform Office on improving access to
health care, the quality of health care, and the
sustainability of the health care system.
    (d) All executive departments and agencies shall
cooperate with the Health Reform Office and provide
such information, support, and assistance to the Health
Reform Office as it may request, to the extent
permitted by law.

Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order
shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) authority granted by law to a department, agency, or the head thereof;
or

(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

    (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with
applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.

    (c) This order is not intended to, and does not,
create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law or in equity, by any party against
the United States, its departments, agencies, or
entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any
other person.

    (Presidential Sig.)

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    April 8, 2009.