The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, overseen by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has asked for nominations to the influential Preventive Services Task Force on Tuesday — a panel that determines which preventive medical care is provided at no cost to patients.
The task force, which typically includes 16 members, last met over a year ago. Three scheduled meetings were canceled in succession, and new members have not been appointed to replace five volunteers whose terms expired in December.
“That task force has been lackadaisical. It’s not been doing its job,” Kennedy stated earlier this month during a House committee hearing.
A division of HHS announced it is seeking clinicians and researchers to be nominated for the task force, including specialties such as cardiology, oncology, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, family medicine, and health economics. Nominations are due by May 23.
Medical experts say Kennedy’s sidelining of the task force has delayed updates to screening guidelines for cancer, heart disease, and other conditions.
