Senators affirm independence of U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

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The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is a vital part of American health care that needs to stay in place, said Democrats and the “Prevention Senator.”

This week, Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) introduced a resolution affirming support for the panel, which has become the subject of speculation about a shake-up.

Late last week, The Wall Street Journal reported Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., was planning a mass firing of the panel “because he views them as too ‘woke,’” according to “people familiar with the matter.” The report prompted a statement from the American Medical Association supporting the continuation and independence of the panel.

USPSTF was created in 1984 and serves as “a scientifically independent, volunteer panel of national experts that works to improve the health of people nationwide,” the senators said in an announcement. Members have expertise in preventive medicine and primary care, including internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, behavioral health, obstetrics and gynecology, and nursing, they said.

Sen. Angus King (I-Maine)

Based on review of evidence, they recommend treatments that public and private insurers by law must cover without patient cost. USPSTF is a “guiding light,” addressing preventive care for conditions ranging from HIV to cancer, King and Warren said in the news release.

“I have always said that ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,’ but the ongoing threats from the Trump administration to disband the task force are the latest example that the cheapest medical procedure is the one that never is needed because of precautions and treatment ahead of time,” said King, known as the “Prevention Senator” for his support of preventive health care. “While I hope this does not come to fruition, I will continue working with my colleagues to ensure that this task force can continue to operate in an apolitical landscape for decades to come.”

Joining King on the resolution are Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York), Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland), Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota). They agreed “the task force has saved hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of lives due to its often simple and inexpensive reommendations.

The announcement included a statement from AcademyHealth President and CEO Aaron Carroll, MD, MS.

"Everyone deserves a fair chance to live a healthy life,” Carroll said. “The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force helps make that possible by grounding preventive care in the best available science, not ideology. Senator King’s resolution is a strong affirmation that evidence, not politics, should guide how we keep people well."

The senators’ statement and resolution follows another instance of USPSTF landing in the news, but not for its medical recommendations.

Earlier this month, Kennedy canceled USPSTF’s scheduled in-person meeting without offering an explanation. A coalition of 104 medical and public health groups almost immediately sent a letter to congressional leaders urging them to protect USPSTF’s independence.

The Senate resolution noted the USPSTF’s independence and the appointment power of the HHS secretary. The task force works with support by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality under HHS, generally meeting in March, July and November.

The move would not be unprecedented for HHS, where Kennedy began overseeing internal job cuts upon being confirmed to the post. This summer, physician organizations largely panned his decision to fire members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and replace them with other analysts.