Preventive Services Task Force Archives

GOP Tries To Cut Billions in Health Benefits

Episode 397

May 15, 2025

GOP-controlled House committees approved parts of President Donald Trump’s “one big, beautiful bill” this week, including more than $700 billion in cuts to health programs over the next decade — mostly from Medicaid, which covers people with low incomes or disabilities. Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified before Congress for the first time since taking office and told lawmakers that Americans shouldn’t take medical advice from him. Julie Appleby of ��ϳԹ�� News, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico Magazine join ��ϳԹ�� News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more.

Listen Now

A photo of a woman receiving a mammogram.

Mammograms at 40? Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines Spark Fresh Debate

There is no direct evidence that screening women in their 40s will save lives, yet modeling suggests expanding routine mammography to include them might avert 1.3 deaths per 1,000. Highlighting the risk of false positives, some specialists call for a more personalized approach.

By Ronnie Cohen

May 30, 2023

An illustration of a gavel and the rod of Asclepius against a dark backdrop.

Judge’s Decision Would Make Some No-Cost Cancer Screenings a Thing of the Past

A U.S. District Court ruling overturned the section of the Affordable Care Act that makes preventive health services — from colonoscopies to diabetes screenings and more — available at no cost to consumers.

By Julie Appleby and Michelle Andrews

March 30, 2023

NIH Spearheads Study To Test At-Home Screening For HPV And Cervical Cancer

The National Cancer Institute plans to launch a multisite study next year involving roughly 5,000 women to assess whether self-sampling at home for the human papillomavirus that causes cervical cancer is comparable to screening in a doctor’s office.

By Charlotte Huff

July 1, 2020

Navigating Aging

U.S. Medical Panel Thinks Twice About Pushing Cognitive Screening For Dementia

Because seniors are at higher risk of cognitive impairment, proponents say screening asymptomatic older adults is an important strategy to identify people who may be developing dementia and to improve their care. But the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force cited insufficient evidence the tests are helpful.

By Judith Graham

Feb. 25, 2020

Investigation

A Million-Dollar Marketing Juggernaut Pushes 3D Mammograms

Companies are aggressively touting 3D mammograms, although there’s no evidence they save lives.

By Liz Szabo

Oct. 22, 2019

Even When HIV Prevention Drug Is Covered, Other Costs Block Treatment

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended that people who are at high risk of contracting HIV take PrEP, a preventive treatment. The decision means most health plans will be required to cover the drugs without charging patients. But the recommendation doesn’t apply to the other clinical and lab services people need.

By Michelle Andrews

July 15, 2019

Treating Domestic Violence As A Medical Problem

Health care professionals increasingly collaborate with anti-abuse advocates to identify victims and ensure they get the help they need. One women’s center is opening a shelter on the campus of a large public hospital in Los Angeles.

By Anna Gorman

Jan. 29, 2018

Prevention Experts Propose Easing Advice On Number Of Cervical Cancer Screenings

A draft recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says women between ages 30 and 65 should get a Pap test every three years or an HPV screening every five years, but they don’t need to do both.

By Michelle Andrews

Sept. 15, 2017

All Kids Should Be Screened for Obesity

An expert panel renews its guidelines that children and teens be screened for obesity at doctors’ offices and advised to receive treatment.

By Michelle Andrews

June 23, 2017

Despite Prevention Guidelines, Few Smokers Seek CT Scans To Check For Lung Cancer

Lung cancer screening rates have not changed much even though the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has recommended that smokers get checked, according to a new study.

By Michelle Andrews

Feb. 10, 2017

One In Three Women With Breast Cancer Treated Unnecessarily, Study Concludes

Mammograms find many slow-growing cancers that aren’t life-threatening and shouldn’t be treated, a Danish study said.

By Liz Szabo

Jan. 9, 2017

Beyond Birth Control, Women Could Pay More For Insurance Again Under TrumpCare

The federal health law offered new coverage guarantees for women, and some advocates fear they could change under Republicans’ efforts to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act.

By Michelle Andrews

Nov. 29, 2016

Expert Panel Recommends Expansion Of Services With No Cost Sharing For Women

The list of preventive services that insurers must cover without a co-pay could grow to include mammograms for younger women, testing that follows an irregular screening and birth control for men.

By Michelle Andrews

Sept. 27, 2016

Gov’t Task Force Finds Evidence Lacking to Support Visual Skin Cancer Screenings

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force concluded that insufficient evidence exists regarding the benefits and harms of visual skin cancer exams.

By Carmen Heredia Rodriguez

July 26, 2016

Young People At Risk For STDs Often Don’t Get Tested: Study

A CDC survey of teens and young adults finds that nearly half who have had sex but not been tested for disease believe they are not at risk. Yet young people account for half of all new sexually transmitted infections.

By Michelle Andrews

June 3, 2016

Task Force: Not Enough Evidence To Recommend ‘For Or Against’ Universal Autism Screening For Very Young Kids

Some health professionals worry that the task force’s findings could result in missed opportunities for early intervention.

By Shefali Luthra

Feb. 16, 2016

Study: 29 Percent Of Colonoscopy Patients May Have Unneeded Pre-Screening Visits

Primary care doctors can do the initial screening and recommendations for a colonoscopy, the researchers write in JAMA.

By Michelle Andrews

Feb. 5, 2016

Medicare Payment Changes Lead More Men To Get Screening Colonoscopies

The health law waived Medicare’s Part B deductible and dropped the 20 percent copayment for the preventive tests.

By Michelle Andrews

Dec. 24, 2015

New Guidelines Boost Diabetes Screening For Overweight Adults

The prevention task force also recommends that patients with high blood sugar levels be referred to nutrition and exercise counseling. Under the health law, the services would be covered by insurance without cost sharing.

By Michelle Andrews

Dec. 4, 2015

��ϳԹ��

Trump 2.0

Public Health

Audio Reports

Special Reports

More Topics

Preventive Services Task Force