Medical Groups Warn Against RFK Jr.’s Reported Plan to Oust Vital Preventive Services Task Force
Medical Groups Warn Against RFK Jr.’s Reported Plan to Oust Vital Preventive Services Task Force
Leading medical organizations are sounding alarms over reports that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is considering dismissing the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), a critical advisory panel of primary care experts. This potential move, initially reported by The Wall Street Journal, has drawn “deep concern” from the American Medical Association (AMA) and over 100 other top medical groups.
The controversy follows a similar action last month when Kennedy replaced members of a CDC vaccine advisory committee. Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, president of the AMA, expressed apprehension that the same could occur with the USPSTF, an independent body that has provided evidence-based preventive care guidelines since 1984. These guidelines are widely trusted by clinicians for crucial services like cancer screenings and chronic disease management, and are often tied to insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
Medical experts, including former USPSTF chairs, warn that dismissing the current panel could erode trust in established guidelines, leaving clinicians and patients uncertain about best practices. The AMA, along with other health organizations, recently urged Congress to safeguard the USPSTF’s integrity from political interference and directly appealed to Secretary Kennedy to retain the current members, emphasizing the panel’s vital role in improving American health. The Department of Health and Human Services has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the reported plan.
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