Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is considering removing all 16 members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). This key advisory panel guides recommendations for free or low-cost screenings such as mammograms, HIV prevention medication, and tests for chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease.
The USPSTF is composed of independent doctors, nurses, and public health experts who review scientific research to shape national preventive care standards. Under the Affordable Care Act, private insurers are required to cover any services the task force gives an A or B grade at no cost to patients, making its recommendations highly influential.
According to HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon, “no final decision has been made on how the USPSTF can better support HHS’ mandate to Make America Healthy Again.” However, task force members were rattled earlier this month when Kennedy abruptly canceled a meeting on heart disease prevention without explanation.
The panel has faced criticism from conservative groups over some past recommendations, including its “A” rating for the HIV prevention pill PrEP, which led to a Supreme Court case challenging the ACA’s preventive care mandate. While the court upheld the ACA provision, it affirmed that the HHS secretary has authority to remove and replace task force members.
Kennedy has made tackling childhood chronic disease a cornerstone of his agenda, but it’s unclear which areas of preventive care he would prioritize in a potential overhaul. His consideration comes just weeks after he dismissed all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and replaced them with a smaller group that includes prominent vaccine skeptics.
If Kennedy proceeds, the move could reshape U.S. preventive care policy and redefine access to screenings and medications millions of Americans rely on.
