NEW: RFK Jr. Postpones Third Consecutive Meeting of Preventive Health Task Force Arrow

The task force determines which preventive care, like cancer screenings, must be covered cost-free under most insurance plans

New reporting revealed that the Department of Health and Human Services, under Robert F. Kennedy Jr., once again postponed a meeting of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a key panel responsible for combating chronic diseases and expanding access to preventive care. The USPSTF is responsible for deciding which tests and treatments, including cancer screening and HIV-prevention drugs, need to be covered cost-free under most health insurance plans.

RFK Jr. has repeatedly sought to undermine the task force, canceling every meeting after March 2025. In July, RFK Jr. reportedly considered firing the entire panel, which is made up entirely of medical experts who are screened for conflicts of interest - despite RFK Jr.'s claims. Public health experts warn that by weakening the committee, RFK Jr. could seriously endanger access to preventive health care for Americans.

Reminder: At his State of the Union address, Trump spent only five minutes talking about health care, even though most Americans say their top concern is the cost of health care. A majority of adults expect their health care costs to become less affordable in the next year, and nearly 1 in 3 adults indicated they are "very worried" about health care bills.

In response, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. released the following statement:

"Donald Trump and RFK Jr. have taken a wrecking ball to Americans' health care and have failed to address rising health care costs. Last year, Trump made the largest cut to Medicaid in history and allowed the Affordable Care Act tax credits to expire, more than doubling premiums for millions of Americans. Now, Trump is spending billions of taxpayer dollars on a war in Iran, but can't be bothered to help everyday Americans afford their health care bills. Meanwhile, RFK Jr. is dismantling public health systems that help Americans get the life-saving care they need. Americans are fed up with Trump and RFK Jr. gambling with their health while they enrich themselves and their friends."