Healthcare groups respond, urging Congress to ‘protect the integrity’ of the panel that recommends preventive health services like PrEP and contraception
In an unexpected email, members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) were informed that their July 10 was being postponed by U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. The all-volunteer task force assesses the benefits of preventive health services and issues recommendations. These recommendations serve as guidelines for care providers. Under the Affordable Care Act (the ACA, known as “Obamacare”) the USPSTF’s recommendations determine what prevention services—such as HIV prevention (PrEP), contraception and cancer screenings—must be covered by insurance companies.
“The Immediate Office of the Secretary is postponing the July USPSTF meeting,” the brief email said. “Moving forward, HHS looks forward to engaging with the Task Force to promote the health and well-being of the American people.”
The “postponement” comes less than two weeks after a U.S. Supreme Court decision that upheld the constitutionality of the task force. In Kennedy v. Braidwood Management, a family-owned Texas business claimed that the USPSTF didn’t have the legality to impose PrEP and contraception requirements (which the family said went against their religious beliefs) because the panel violated the Constitution’s Appointments Clause because “officers of the United States” must appointed by the president and are subject to confirmation by the Senate.
The court ruled that the HHS secretary had the authority to appoint—and remove—task force members. While the decision was considered a victory for public health, PrEP and HIV advocates were concerned it potentially laid down the groundwork for Kennedy to disband the USPSTF. In June, Kennedy fired the 17-member Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, replacing it with his own handpicked group of eight vaccine denialists and skeptics.
The USPSTF meets in person three times a year—in March, July and November. Postponement of the Thursday meeting reportedly caught members by surprise. Travel arrangements had already been made when the email came on Monday.
According to reports, the meeting’s agenda was to include discussion of recommendations on a healthy diet, physical activity and weight loss to prevent cardiovascular disease, focusing on behavioral counseling interventions.
USPSTF members are thoroughly vetted; potential conflict of interest are posted on the task force’s website. To avoid political influence, they are appointed to staggered four-year terms so that no single president has control. These safeguards would be undermined if members were fired en masse and a new panel put in place.
A letter signed by 104 medical organizations sent to leaders of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions urged Congress to “protect the integrity” of the USPSTF.
“The loss of trustworthiness in the rigorous and nonpartisan work of the Task Force would devastate patients, hospital systems, and payers as misinformation creates barriers to accessing lifesaving and cost effective care,” the letter said.
“The current panel of 16 members features experts in clinical medicine, scientific research, and public health, and members are appointed by HHS secretaries to serve 4-year terms,” the letter stated. “All members are extensively vetted for conflicts of interest, and their service is completely voluntary and uncompensated.”
The letter was addressed to Senate committee chair Bill Cassidy (Louisiana - R), who received his medical degree from Louisiana State University in 1979, and ranking committee member Bernie Sanders (Vermont - I). The letter was also sent to leadership of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
This story was compiled from news reports.