Republican doctors and medical groups are calling for a potential overhaul of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), arguing that the organization is shifting focus from health to social justice issues. The initiative, led by Reps. Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.) and Greg Murphy (R-N.C.), seeks to ensure the Task Force prioritizes medical science and preventive care, rather than addressing divisive social topics like race and gender identity.
The effort comes as bipartisan members of the GOP Doctors Caucus expressed concerns that the USPSTF may be prioritizing social justice issues over other issues. A letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., led by Harshbarger, Murphy, and other members of the caucus, highlights these concerns, emphasizing the need for a task force that follows scientific principles and acts with urgency. Harshbarger asserted that preventive care should focus on keeping Americans healthy, rather than checking political boxes.
Additionally, the letter outlines requests for ‘relevant specialists’ to be involved in decision-making, greater transparency, and a stronger focus on outcomes rather than social issues. The USPSTF, which was expanded in authority with the 2010 Affordable Care Act, has seen preventable chronic diseases rise in the U.S., according to the letter. Other members of the caucus, including Reps. Andy Harris, Ronny Jackson, Mike Kennedy, Brian Babin, Sheri Biggs, and Bob Onder, have also signed the letter.
Earlier this month, three Republican senators echoed these concerns, writing a similar letter to HHS. This letter criticized the USPSTF for shifting focus towards equity as a criterion in public health decisions. In July, there were reports that Kennedy was considering removing members of the board, though no final decision has been made. The American Medical Association has opposed the overhaul, arguing that the USPSTF plays a critical, nonpartisan role in guiding physicians’ efforts to prevent disease and improve patient health. However, a group of physicians, including those from the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, America’s Frontline Doctors, and the Pennsylvania Direct Primary Care Association, have supported changes, calling for an ideological balance in the task force to ensure recommendations are grounded in facts and science.
As the debate over the USPSTF’s direction continues, the issue remains a point of contention within the healthcare sector, with both supporters and critics pushing for a clear focus on medical outcomes over political considerations.