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Preventative Services Panel Bill Mulled by House

News  |  By HealthLeaders Media News  
   December 06, 2016

Proposed changes to the composition of the U.S. Preventative Service Task Force include a requirement that specialists and subspecialists be involved in its reviews.

Representatives of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Urological Association squared off last week over proposed changes to the make-up of the U.S. Preventative Service Task Force.

The two groups testified before the health subcommittee of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee. The subcommittee is considering changes to the organizations' rules, including adding a requirement that specialists and subspecialists be involved in task force reviews.

USPSTF panelists review and make recommendations on the efficacy of preventative health services. The group is convened by the federal Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality and its reports often guide coverage decisions made by both private and pubic payers.

The scientific debate over the efficacy of some forms of cancer screening has played out in panel decisions. While some physicians and patient groups have supported USPSTF decisions questioning the efficacy of mammography and prostate cancer screening, others have challenged the panels decisions.

Physicians with Opposing Views Testify
That was the focus of testimony from John Lynch, MD, a urologist at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC. He said many urologists question the group's 2012 decision against the routine use of PSA testing as a screening test for prostate cancer.

Instead, he said, "it would be better to 'screen smarter' by testing most men at individualized intervals… These decisions are best made between a physician and a patient." Lynch advocated for the inclusion of more specialists on the task force panels.

John Meigs, Jr., MD, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians, advocated against making changes to the panel.

'While we have the highest level of respect for our specialty and subspecialty colleagues, their role in treating specific conditions and organ systems is not the same as developing guidelines to prevent such conditions," he said.

Meigs also noted that the legislation would require input on panel decisions from health care industry representatives. That would impact the objectivity of the task force, he argued, "changing it from an evidence based body to a group influenced by concerns about financial and political influences."

A video of the hearing, as well as complete testimony, is available on the subcommittee website.


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