cupure logo
trumptexastrumpsairportdeathcourtmacronwildfiretariffday

Scoop: RFK Jr. halts preventive service task force meeting for now

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s office has postponed a meeting of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force scheduled for Thursday that was due to take up healthy diet, physical activity and other steps to prevent cardiovascular disease, sources familiar told Axios. Why it matters: The expert panel makes recommendations for services that health insurers must cover fully under the Affordable Care Act. The Supreme Court last month upheld the structure of the task force in a case surrounding coverage of HIV prevention drugs, ruling that its members are accountable to the HHS secretary, who has the power to remove and replace members at will. Public health experts have raised the possibility that Kennedy could change the task force's composition or fire its members, as he did with a federal vaccine advisory panel early last month. Zoom in: The HHS Immediate Office of the Secretary sent a letter on Monday announcing that the July task force meeting is postponed and that HHS looks forward to engaging with the task force to promote health and well-being in the future, a source familiar told Axios. An HHS spokesperson confirmed that the task force will not be meeting on July 10.The task force meets throughout the year, but members were slated to attend one of three annual in-person meetings on Thursday. The panel's recommendations give about 150 million people with private health coverage access to no-cost cancer screenings, counseling and other services.

Comments

World news