Technology and cybersecurity

Executive Order 13335: Incentives for the Use of Health Information Technology and Establishing the Position of the National Health Information Technology Coordinator

President: George W. Bush

Established the National Health Information Technology Coordinator and directed development of a plan for interoperable electronic health information.

Status: In effect. Is Executive Order 13335 still in effect? Yes. Executive Order 13335 remains in effect. See Federal Register record.

What does Executive Order 13335 do?

HHS's 2018 organization notice described ONC's continuing interoperability, policy and coordination roles and explicitly linked them to EO 13335 and later statutes.

Administration position: The 2004 executive charter was followed by HITECH and 21st Century Cures Act authorities. The office's existence does not by itself establish nationwide interoperability or patient outcomes.
SignedApril 27, 2004
Original directionEstablished the National Health Information Technology Coordinator and directed development of a plan for interoperable electronic health information.
Later evidenceHHS's 2018 organization notice described ONC's continuing interoperability, policy and coordination roles and explicitly linked them to EO 13335 and later statutes.
Review dateSeptember 26, 2026

Before and after

Before the order

Healthcare organizations used incompatible information systems, and federal coordination of interoperability policy was still developing.

After the order

HHS's 2018 organization notice described ONC's continuing interoperability, policy and coordination roles and explicitly linked them to EO 13335 and later statutes.

The 2004 executive charter was followed by HITECH and 21st Century Cures Act authorities. The office's existence does not by itself establish nationwide interoperability or patient outcomes.

Who had to do what

Source: Signed Federal Register text.
Agency / officeActionTiming / position
HHS SecretaryEstablish and staff the National Health Information Technology Coordinator position; appoint in consultation with the President or designee. Report to the President on HHS-program incentives for adopting health IT.Coordinator begins operations within 90 days after April 27, 2004; incentive report within 90 days after that date.
National Health Information Technology CoordinatorDevelop, maintain, and direct a nationwide interoperable health-IT strategic plan addressing standards, adoption barriers, costs and benefits, privacy and security, and measurable goals without assuming additional federal spending. Advise HHS, direct its programs, coordinate other federal programs, conduct public/private outreach, and advise OMB on request. Report progress to HHS.Progress report within 90 days after beginning operations and periodically thereafter.
OPM DirectorReport to the President through HHS on Federal Employees Health Benefits Program incentives for adopting health IT.Within 90 days after April 27, 2004.
VA SecretaryJointly with Defense, report to the President through HHS on making departmental health-IT systems an affordable private-sector option for rural and medically underserved providers.Within 90 days after April 27, 2004.
Defense SecretaryJointly with VA, report to the President through HHS on making departmental health-IT systems an affordable private-sector option for rural and medically underserved providers.Within 90 days after April 27, 2004.
Later actionHHS's 2018 organization notice described ONC's continuing interoperability, policy and coordination roles and explicitly linked them to EO 13335 and later statutes.May 2, 2018

What happened next

EO 13335 signed.

HHS's 2018 organization notice described ONC's continuing interoperability, policy and coordination roles and explicitly linked them to EO 13335 and later statutes.