Executive Order 13507-Establishment of the White House Office of Health Reform
Issued 2009-04-08 by Barack Obama
Plain-English Overview
AI-generated summary explaining what this action does, who it affects, and why it matters
This executive order created a White House Office of Health Reform to coordinate the federal government's efforts on health care policy. The office was established within the Executive Office of the President to provide leadership across executive departments and agencies on improving access to health care, the quality of care, and the sustainability of the health care system. The order also directed the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a companion Office of Health Reform within that department to coordinate closely with the White House office.
The new office's main job was to develop and coordinate the administration's health care policy agenda across different parts of the federal government, including agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Management and Budget. It was tasked with gathering public input, working with state and local officials, monitoring implementation of health reform efforts, and helping ensure that policymakers across the executive branch worked toward the president's health care goals.
This action affected how the executive branch organized its work on health care policy by creating a central coordinating office in the White House. It mattered because it formalized the administration's structure for pursuing health care reform as a key priority, establishing a dedicated office to lead policy development on issues related to health care costs, access, and quality across the federal government.
AI-generated summary for educational purposes
Constitutional Analysis
How this action fits (or doesn't) within Article II authority and existing law
Executive Order 13507 ("Executive Order 13507-Establishment of the White House Office of Health Reform") restructures or establishes federal entities. The stated purpose: "improve the health of our citizens and our economic security." The President has authority to manage the executive branch under Article II, including creating task forces, councils, and working groups within the White House. However, creating independent agencies with binding regulatory authority, or fundamentally restructuring congressionally created departments, typically requires legislative authorization.
The Reorganization Act historically provided a framework for executive reorganization subject to congressional review. Current reorganization authority is more limited. The constitutionality depends on whether this order creates White House advisory bodies (acceptable) or attempts to restructure agencies in ways that conflict with their enabling statutes (questionable).
Official Summary
Administration of Barack H. Obama, 2009 Executive Order 13507—Establishment of the White House Office of Health Reform April 8, 2009 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. <P ali