This volunteer task force was charged under the new healthcare reform law with recommending medical services, and those that are highly recommended are required to be fully covered. Although this bodes well for patients and their wallets, the task force is finding itself in a game of political tug-of-war with lobbyists and disease advocates, according to the report.
As a result of this new responsibility, disease advocates push their political agendas for various services. Those advocates state that barring certain services becomes an obstacle to broadening care and that recommending certain services will increase patient accessibility to care and create more business.
The lobbying comes at a tough time when the task force attempts to maintain a fair and evidence-based process of recommending services and are also vulnerable to harsh criticisms, the latest being when the group stated women should wait until the age of 50 for regular mammograms, according to the report.
Read the Kaiser Health News report on the challenges facing the Preventative Services Task Force.
Read more recent coverage on healthcare reform:
– New Legislation Passed to Improve Health Programs for Veterans, Seniors and Children
– Premiums in New Risk Pools for People with Preexisting Conditions Can be High
– State-Based Preexisting Insurance Plans Start Accepting Applications
