HHS cancels U.S. Preventive Services Task Force meeting, raising concerns over political interference in evidence-based health guidance.
Sudden Cancellation Prompts Alarm
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has abruptly called off a scheduled meeting of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), a key advisory panel that sets national guidelines for screenings and preventive care. The cancellation has stirred alarm within the medical community, given the panel’s longstanding independence and critical role in shaping no-cost preventive health coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
HHS Confirms Meeting Called Off
An HHS spokesperson confirmed on Monday that the meeting, originally set for Thursday, would not take place. An internal notice cited the decision as a postponement by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s office, though no future date has been announced.
The meeting was to include discussions on behavioral counseling for diet and exercise to prevent cardiovascular disease—topics central to the Task Force’s mandate.
A Pattern of Reshaping Health Policy
The cancellation follows Kennedy’s recent moves to restructure other advisory bodies. In June, he dismissed the entire 17-member CDC vaccine advisory committee and replaced it with eight appointees, some of whom have previously questioned vaccine safety in public forums and courtrooms.
This shift, critics say, signals a broader attempt to reshape federal health policy by replacing science-based guidance with ideologically influenced alternatives.
Fears of Dismantling Evidence-Based Guidance
Health experts warn the cancellation may be a precursor to the Task Force’s dismantling. “There is extraordinary concern that it’s about to be dismissed, like ACIP was,” said a source familiar with the internal proceedings, referring to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
Senator Patty Murray expressed deep concern, stating: “The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is essential to ensuring cancer screenings and other lifesaving preventive services are covered by insurance at no cost to patients. The abrupt postponement should set off alarm bells.”
Supreme Court Ruling Strengthens Kennedy’s Control
The cancellation also comes weeks after a Supreme Court ruling reaffirmed the constitutionality of the Task Force’s structure under the Affordable Care Act—largely on the basis that the HHS Secretary holds appointment authority. Legal scholars, while applauding the Task Force’s survival, noted that the decision simultaneously grants the Secretary unprecedented influence over its operations.
Experts Warn of Long-Term Risks
Dr. Aaron Carroll, CEO of Academy Health and a prominent voice in health services research, criticized the move: “Political interference in any way could undermine the Task Force’s vital role in improving health outcomes nationwide.”
Carroll warned that sweeping changes to the panel could impact how preventive services are delivered, reimbursed, and trusted. “If fringe views are given decision-making power, it sends a chilling message to the entire health ecosystem,” he added.
Broader Pushback from Health Community
Over 100 public health organizations have urged Congress to step in, citing the importance of protecting the Task Force’s scientific integrity. A letter sent Wednesday to congressional leaders called for immediate oversight to preserve the nonpartisan foundation on which the panel was built in 1984.
The Task Force’s evidence-based recommendations affect insurance coverage for preventive screenings, counseling, and early detection of conditions ranging from cancer to heart disease.
Uncertainty Looms
As of now, no new date has been set for the postponed meeting, and HHS has not clarified whether the Task Force will continue to operate in its current form.
While the agency maintains it intends to “engage with the Task Force to promote the health and well-being of the American people,” the health community remains skeptical—fearing that the agency’s commitment to evidence-based medicine is increasingly under threat.
