Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Appoints Eight New Members to Preventive Medicine Task Force

<p>Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the appointment of eight new members to a 16-person federal task force that is responsible for making evidence-based recommendations on various preventive medicine services for Americans, including depression screening, statin use, colonoscopies, and mammograms.</p><p>The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) provides guidance that influences access to preventive services. The USPSTF employs a rigorous framework for evaluating evidence and assigns recommendations on an A to D scale. Health insurance providers are required to cover preventive services that receive an A or B grade at no cost to patients.</p><p>Kennedy has previously canceled USPSTF meetings and has not appointed new members as terms expired. In May, he dismissed two leaders of the task force, which raised concerns about the potential for bias in the panel's recommendations, similar to actions taken regarding a vaccine advisory committee at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.</p>