A presidential executive order will establish a Department of Health and Human Services Office of Health Reform that will coordinate "closely" with the White House health reform office led by Nancy-Ann DeParle,
The executive order doesn’t not name the head of the new office, but cognoscenti point to Jeanne Lambrew who was originally recruited to serve as Daschle's deputy in the White House. Since Tom’s tax troubles, she has been parked at HHS in an undefined role.
It is likely that Ms. Lambrew will act coordinator between the White House and HHS on healthcare reform-related issues.
The order also officially establishes the White House reform office. According to the executive order, the principle functions of the White House Office of Health Reform are to lead and coordinate development of the administration's policy development across executive departments and agencies, including the Domestic Policy Council, National Economic Council, Council of Economic Advisors, Office of Management and Budget, HHS and Office of Personnel Management.
The office will integrate the White House policy agenda across the federal government and coordinate public outreach to gather input from the public, from demonstration and pilot projects, and from public-private partnerships on priorities for policy measures.
We anxiously await the manner and methods this office will use to “gather input from the public” and how they chose who those publics are.
