Federal panel behind cancer screening recommendations hasn't met in nearly a year

The federal task force that shapes recommendations for cancer screenings, heart disease prevention and other preventive services has not convened in almost a year — and it’s unclear whether the panel will convene again.

The federal task force that shapes recommendations for cancer screenings, heart disease prevention and other preventive services has not convened in almost a year — and it’s unclear whether the panel will convene again.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, created in 1984, is an independent panel of volunteer doctors, nurses and public health experts that reviews the latest scientific research and decides which preventive care should be covered at no cost to patients.

Under the Affordable Care Act, most private insurers must cover services that receive an A or B grade from the task force. More than 150 million people with private insurance — including 37 million children — are covered by this provision, according to a 2022 report from the Department of Health and Human Services. The law also extends to roughly 20 million adults enrolled in Medicaid and 61 million adults on Medicare.

The task force typically meets to vote three times a year — in March, July and November. It last convened in March 2025. The July meeting was canceled, and the November meeting was scrapped because of the government shutdown. No meeting has been announced for next month.

The panel is also operating with fewer members. Five members’ terms expired at the end of last year and they have not been publicly replaced, leaving the task force with 11 members instead of its usual 16.