Robert F. Kennedy Jr. HHS, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has reportedly not confirmed this, but some health care leaders are already expressing concern.
The USPSTF was founded 40 years ago as a team of experts who make recommendations on preventive health services such as screening, counseling and medications to improve population health in the country. When the Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010, the law granted the USPSTF new authority by requiring payers to fully cover preventive services in panel A or B.
Wall Street Journal It is the first media to report that Kennedy is considering eliminating the group. Kennedy plans to dismiss all USPSTF members because he thinks their views are too “wake up” and citing people familiar with the matter.
Earlier this month, HHS suddenly canceled the USPSTF meeting – members only informed for four days without explaining why the meeting was not attended. The group is ready to discuss preventive measures designed for cardiovascular and chronic diseases in children.
The American Medical Association strongly advocates for the group to remain intact, and its CEO John Whyte sent a letter to Kennedy expressing concerns on Sunday.
“By law, ensures must cover USPSTF-recommended services without cost sharing. This means that patients have access to services such as screenings for colon, breast, and lung cancer; screenings for anxiety and depression in children; and screenings and preventive services for cardiovascular disease. Access to these services without cost sharing plays a critical role in keeping patients healthy and reducing the burdens of disease,” Whyte wrote.
Companies in the preventive health sector are also concerned about potential changes in the USPSTF.
For example, Kevin Conroy, CEO of Precision Science, (maker of the popular Colon Cancer Screening Test Cologuard) issued a statement highlighting the important role the group plays in improving preventive care and reducing cancer deaths.
“We must maintain high standards of cancer screening guidelines and ensure preventive care remains rooted in rigorous clinical validation. As the health care landscape develops, changes in screening guidelines must be based on proven science and commitment to patient outcomes,” Conroy said.
As uncertainty approaches, he and others fear that demolition of the USPSTF could undermine decades of progress in evidence-based preventive health.
Photo: Pig, Getty Images
