Health and social policy

Executive Order 13544: Establishing the National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council

President: Barack Obama

Implemented the Affordable Care Act’s interagency prevention council and required a national health-promotion strategy.

Status: In effect. Is Executive Order 13544 still in effect? Yes. Executive Order 13544 remains in effect. See Federal Register record.

What does Executive Order 13544 do?

EO 13544 organized the cabinet-level council required by ACA section 4001, chaired by the Surgeon General, and established an advisory group. The council issued the National Prevention Strategy in 2011. The original coordination structure became less active, but the statute and prevention programs remain.

Administration position: The council coordinated prevention policy; it did not compel personal health choices or replace public-health statutes.
SignedJune 10, 2010
Statutory basisACA section 4001
ChairSurgeon General
Strategy issued2011

Before and after

Before the order

Federal prevention programs were distributed across departments without the ACA’s council and strategy.

After the order

Agencies adopted shared priorities for healthy communities, preventive services and reducing disparities.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
CouncilCoordinate and report on prevention policyFunctions evolved
Surgeon GeneralChair and lead strategy developmentStatutory role
AgenciesAlign programs with shared prioritiesProgram-specific

What happened next

EO 13544 established the council.

The National Prevention Strategy was released.