{
  "id": 8171668,
  "title": "RFK Jr. names 8 new members to influential preventive medicine task force",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/rfk-jr-names-8-new-members-to-influential-preventive-medicine-task-8171668",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-17T22:31:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ars Technica",
    "slug": "ars-technica",
    "url": "https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/09/rfk-jr-stacks-another-influential-federal-panel-with-questionable-picks/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Health Secretary and anti-vaccine advocate, has appointed eight new members to the 16-person US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). This federal task force is responsible for providing independent, evidence-based recommendations on preventive medicine services, including depression screening, statin use, colonoscopies, and mammograms. These recommendations guide healthcare providers and determine insurance coverage, as services with A or B grade recommendations must be provided at no cost by health insurers. Kennedy has been in conflict with the USPSTF for over a year, canceling meetings and refusing to appoint new members as their terms expired. In May, he fired two task force leaders, causing outrage and raising concerns that he might corrupt the panel by adding unqualified, ideologically-aligned individuals. This latest appointment further solidifies Kennedy's control over the nonpartisan panel.",
  "summary": "The USPSTF sets insurance coverage from preventive services, like colonoscopies.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}