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  3. Retrospective Review of Existing Rules

Retrospective Review of Existing Rules

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The Department of Health and Human Services has made significant progress in its retrospective review activities since President Obama’s January 2011 Executive Order 13563 on Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review.  In Executive Order 13563, the President recognized the importance of a streamlined, effective, efficient regulatory framework to achieve economic growth, increased investment, job creation, and competition.  HHS is committed to identifying and reviewing existing regulations in order to eliminate those that are obsolete, unnecessary, burdensome, or counterproductive or to modify others to increase their effectiveness, efficiency, and flexibility. 

Executive Order 13563 calls not for a single exercise, but for “periodic review of existing significant regulations,” with close reference to empirical evidence.  It explicitly states that “retrospective analyses, including supporting data, should be released online wherever possible.”  Consistent with the commitment to periodic review and to public participation, HHS continues to assess its existing significant regulations.  Since the President’s Executive Order on Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review, HHS has made significant progress in its retrospective review activities.

  • Read HHS's August 2011 Final Retrospective Review Plan on the web or download it as a
  • Read the August 2011 list of regulations initially identified for retrospective review, a summary of public comments, and public comments on the HHS preliminary plan or download it as a

Learn more about our progress:

  • February 2016 Retrospective Review:
    • February 2016 Regulatory Review Update
    • February 2016 Regulatory Review Submissions
  • July 2015 Retrospective Review:
    • July 2015 Regulatory Review Update
    • July 2015 Regulatory Review Submissions
  • February 2015 Retrospective Review:
    • February 2015 Regulatory Review Update
    • February 2015 Regulatory Review Submissions
  • July 2014 Retrospective Review:
    • July 2014 Regulatory Review Update
    • July 2014 Regulatory Review Submissions
  • January 2014 Retrospective Review:
    • January 2014 Regulatory Review Update
    • January 2014 Regulatory Review Submissions
  • July 2013 Retrospective Review:
    • July 2013 Regulatory Review Update
    • July 2013 Regulatory Review Submissions
  • January 2013 Retrospective Review:
    • January 2013 Regulatory Review Update
    • January 2013 Regulatory Review Submissions
  • September 2012 Retrospective Review:
    • September 2012 Regulatory Review Update
    • September 2012 Regulatory Review Submissions
  • May 2012 Retrospective Review:
    • May 2012 Regulatory Review Update
    • May 2012 Regulatory Review Submissions
  • January 2012 Retrospective Review:
    • January 2012 Regulatory Review Update
    • January 2012 Regulatory Review Submissions

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Content created by Immediate Office of the Secretary (IOS)
Content last reviewed March 10, 2016
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