Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is considering removing all 16 members of the United States Preventive Services Task Force, a move that would upend the influential advisory body responsible for guiding routine medical care and cancer screenings across the country, according to two people familiar with the plan.
The Power of the Independent Panel
The potential shake-up follows a series of postponed meetings and prior friction between the administration and federal health panels.
The task force operates as an independent group of volunteer doctors, nurses, and public health experts. It reviews scientific research to issue guidance on diseases ranging from heart conditions and diabetes to breast cancer and HIV prevention.
Under the Affordable Care Act, private insurers must cover services that earn an A or B grade from the panel at zero cost to patients.
Administrative Friction and Legal Hurdles
Health and Human Services spokesperson Andrew Nixon stated in an emailed statement that no final decision has been finalized regarding how the task force can better support the agency’s mandate to make America healthy again, as first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Earlier this month, members were notified of an abrupt postponement of a scheduled meeting focused on heart disease, without a provided reason or rescheduled date.
Conservative groups have historically targeted the panel for certain decisions. Most notably, its A rating for the HIV prevention medication PrEP triggered a legal challenge by Christian employers that eventually reached the U.S. Supreme Court.
While the justices voted 6-3 to uphold the Affordable Care Act mandate requiring free coverage for recommended preventive services, the court agreed with the administration that the health secretary retains final authority over the task force and holds the power to remove and replace its members.
A Pattern of Federal Overhauls
The potential overhaul mirrors actions taken elsewhere within the federal health apparatus.
In June, Kennedy dismissed all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccines, and replaced them with eight new members, including several prominent vaccine critics.
Medical Community Alarm
Medical associations have expressed concern over the stability of the advisory system.
Willie Underwood, president of the American Medical Association, noted that any new slate represents a significant departure from traditional membership and emphasized that a strong primary care voice remains vital. According to Reuters, Underwood stressed that recommendations must continue to stem from transparent, rigorous, and independent scientific processes.
Lisa Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, stated that the task force has important work ahead to ensure critical recommendations align with the latest science so patients can access lifesaving preventive services like cancer screenings.
Meanwhile, Aaron Carroll, chief executive of AcademyHealth, pointed out that the underlying evidence system faces broader administrative hurdles, noting that the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has experienced severe workforce reductions and terminated numerous research grants relevant to preventive care delivery.