The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) was created by the federal government in 1984 to provide recommendations to primary care practitioners on the scientific efficacy of screening. In 2010, the federal government linked USPSTF recommendations with national healthcare policy when the Affordable Care Act mandated free coverage by Medicare and private insurance for all screening exams that receive a USPSTF recommendation of A or B. The law was intentionally silent regarding coverage for services that receive USPSTF grade C, D or I (insufficient evidence) recommendations. Insurers can cover these services but have no mandate to do so.
The link between USPSTF recommendations and insurance coverage has become highly controversial, especially in the case of cancer screening. The controversy is fueled by the fear that patients may lose access to cancer screening exams that do not receive USPSTF A or B recommendations. Thus, it is critical that USPSTF recommendations are based on the best expert opinions.
How many cancer experts are on the USPSTF? Zero. No cancer expert — whether oncologist, radiation oncologist, surgeon, radiologist, nuclear medicine specialist, or pathologist — has ever been a member of the USPSTF.
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