Senators question Kennedy's changes to preventive-services task force

Kennedy recently appointed eight new members, including five specialists and one non-clinician healthcare economist. The senators called the change a major break from the task force’s historic makeup of primary care and prevention experts. They also questioned an application window of 1 month, compared with a normally year-long process that included a 3-month application window, and raised concerns about the lack of conflict-of-interest disclosures for new members.

The senators said the task force’s parent agency, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, had lost about 80% of its staff over the past 18 months, raising concerns about support for evidence reviews. Their letter asks Kennedy to respond by Oct. 15, with questions about appointments, disclosures, the firing of two vice chairs in May and agency support.