WASHINGTON — Two leading physicians who headed a federal panel responsible for establishing preventive healthcare coverage requirements have been dismissed by the Trump administration.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sent termination letters dated May 11 to the co-chairs of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, ending their appointments before their scheduled terms were complete.
The Department of Health and Human Services has already significantly reduced the task force’s activities, suspending planned public sessions throughout the past year and delaying anticipated updates on topics including cervical cancer screening protocols.
Established in the 1980s, the task force consists of medical experts who evaluate scientific research supporting various disease prevention measures, including depression screenings and statin medications for heart attack prevention. The group assigns letter ratings based on the strength of scientific evidence. Through provisions in the Affordable Care Act, insurance providers must offer preventive services rated “A” or “B” without patient copayments.
Kennedy’s dismissal letters did not specify reasons for removing Drs. John Wong and Esa Davis from their positions. His correspondence praised their “leadership, contributions and expertise” in advancing the task force’s mission “to improve the health of Americans” and invited them to submit new applications. Kennedy stated he was examining task force memberships “to ensure clarity, continuity and confidence” in HHS supervision.
The New York Times initially reported on these letters. An HHS representative did not answer inquiries about the dismissals.
During testimony before lawmakers last month, Kennedy described plans to reform what he called a “lackadaisical” task force, promising more frequent meetings and “for the first time, transparency.” The panel currently conducts open meetings, solicits public feedback on preliminary recommendations, and releases supporting scientific documentation.
Health policy advocates have expressed concerns that Kennedy might replace experienced panel members with less qualified political appointees, similar to changes made to an important vaccine advisory group. According to former task force chairman Dr. Michael Silverstein, a pediatrician, the panel has been prevented from publishing final cervical cancer screening updates and advancing maternal depression recommendations over the past year.
“This is a level of government intrusion into scientific processes that I’ve not experienced in my 10 years on the task force,” he said.
Aaron Carroll from the nonpartisan policy organization AcademyHealth explained that overlapping appointment terms typically allow health secretaries to gradually introduce new members and influence the task force without completely disrupting its operations.
