The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking written comments on 3 proposed new objectives for Healthy People 2030. HHS invites members of the public — both individuals and organizations — to provide comments about the new objectives for HHS to consider.
Public comments informed the development of Healthy People 2030. Continuing to solicit and receive periodic public input throughout the decade will ensure the initiative reflects current public health priorities and areas of public interest.
HHS will accept written comments through 11:59 p.m. ET, July 16, 2026. All written comments must be submitted by email to HP2030Comment@hhs.gov. For complete details about this request for comments, please review the full Federal Register Notice (FRN).
The proposed new objectives were developed by Healthy People 2030 workgroups, which are led by subject matter experts in various federal government agencies. The Healthy People Federal Interagency Workgroup (FIW) has reviewed these objectives. The proposed new objectives are:
- Access to Health Services-NEW-10: Reduce the proportion of persons who are unable to obtain or who delay obtaining mental health care due to cost. Data source: National Health Interview Survey, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Center for Health Statistics.
- Early and Middle Childhood-NEW-05: Increase the proportion of children who are developmentally ‘on track’ and healthy and ready to learn at school. Data source: National Survey of Children’s Health, Health Resources and Services Administration/Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
- Social Determinants of Health-NEW-03: Explore the impact of referrals to non-clinical activities (e.g., art, music, movement, nature, and community service) on improving health outcomes.
In addition, HHS recently released the Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Harms of Screen Use (the Advisory) which warns of adverse health outcomes associated with screen time. The Advisory discusses screen time exposures in young children through teenage years and highlights concerns with mental, cognitive, and behavioral health. It also delivers guidance and interventions for families, schools, health care providers, researchers, and technology companies seeking to limit harmful exposures and/or improve the quality of appropriate screen use. With the release of this information and new guidance, ODPHP is seeking public comments to refine or expand two existing Healthy People 2030 objectives:
- Physical Activity-13: Increase the proportion of children aged 2 to 5 years who get no more than 1 hour of screen time a day. Data Source: National Survey of Children’s Health, Health Resources and Services Administration
- Physical Activity Research Objective-02: Increase the proportion of parents who follow American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations on limiting screen time for children aged 6 to 17 years
Since 1980, the Healthy People initiative has established overarching goals and measurable objectives to improve the health and well-being of people nationwide. At the beginning of every decade, HHS launches a new iteration of the initiative that addresses the latest public health priorities and challenges. Healthy People 2030 is the initiative’s fifth iteration.
Public comments will be reviewed and deliberated upon by Healthy People workgroups, the FIW, and other federal subject matter experts.
