The Affordable Care Act (ACA) presents opportunities to support what has often been called the new public health. This analysis of the ACA provisions suggests five interrelated issues of importance for the future of public health-defining a new paradigm, identifying reliable funding streams, developing the evidence base, establishing effective relationships with other actors, and communicating the value proposition of public health. The brief concludes by noting that much work must still be done to assure that the ACA becomes a wellspring of appreciation for public healths value, rather than the high water mark for public health advocacy.