WASHINGTON, April 8 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama signed an executive order establishing the White House Office of Health Care Reform Wednesday to examine the U.S. healthcare system.
"The healthcare system suffers from serious and pervasive problems, access to healthcare 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," the executive order read.
The order also directed the health and human service secretary to set up an Office of Health Reform that will work closely with the White House office.
Among other things, the White House office will provide leadership and coordination among executive departments of the administration's policy to provide "high-quality, affordable, and accessible healthcare and to slow the growth of health costs," the order said.
The office also will work with Congress and others to eliminate unnecessary legislation, regulations and "other bureaucratic barriers that impede effective delivery of efficient and high-quality health care," as well as monitor Obama's healthcare reform agenda.
