Angus King (I-ME)
Protect U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Integrity Act
A bill from an independent · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
S. 5698 is a bill titled the "Protect U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Integrity Act" that was introduced in the Senate on November 10, 2026. The legislation amends the Public Health Service Act to protect the operations and recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task Force. It establishes rules regarding how Task Force members are appointed by the Secretary and sets specific qualifications for those members. The bill prohibits the Task Force from changing or downgrading recommendations simply to fit Department priorities. Additionally, it confirms the Secretary's authority to review new or updated recommendations and sets standards for delaying or changing coverage requirements for preventive services.
Yes· 3 of 9
- Scored +6
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Low-income households benefit significantly from ensuring preventive healthcare services remain accessible without copays or deductibles.
- Scored +6
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill protects patient access to evidence-based preventive services without deductibles or copays by ensuring Task Force recommendations cannot be downgraded based on Department priorities.
- Scored +5
Would children be better off under this?
Children benefit from continued, unimpeded access to recommended preventive health services without cost-sharing.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2 and Section 3(a), which amends section 915(a)(7) of the Public Health Service Act, ensure that patients can continue to access evidence-based preventive services recommended with a grade of "A" or "B" without paying a deductible or copay, and protect those recommendations from being downgraded based purely on Department priorities. This benefits individuals by keeping crucial preventive healthcare accessible and affordable.
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Section 3(a), adding section 915(a)(8) to the Public Health Service Act, outlines clear qualifications and an open nomination process for the 16 members of the Task Force, while also allowing the Comptroller General to make recommendations. This is positive because it brings transparency to how experts are chosen to guide national health decisions.
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Section 3(b), which amends section 2713 of the Public Health Service Act, prevents the Secretary from delaying plan years for preventive service coverage or altering previous recommendations unless the changes are strictly evidence-based and align with the Task Force's April 2023 procedure manual. This protects everyday people from arbitrary delays in getting free preventive health benefits.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 3(a), adding section 915(a)(8)(C)(iii) to the Public Health Service Act, permits the Secretary to issue a waiver allowing individuals with a financial interest to serve on the Task Force under certain conditions. This could be seen as a burden or negative outcome for the public because it potentially allows individuals with financial conflicts of interest to participate in matters related to health recommendations, even with mandatory recusals.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Low-income households benefit significantly from ensuring preventive healthcare services remain accessible without copays or deductibles. Would children be better off under this? — Children benefit from continued, unimpeded access to recommended preventive health services without cost-sharing. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Middle-aged individuals maintain reliable access to preventive services and screenings critical for detecting health conditions early. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Middle-class households are protected from arbitrary delays or cost increases for recommended preventive healthcare services. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Seniors benefit from the integrity and evidence-based standards maintained for preventive health recommendations. Would women be better off under this? — Women benefit from the protection of preventive services, including key screenings, from arbitrary downgrades or coverage delays. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Young adults benefit from protected access to preventive health screenings and services covered without deductibles or copays.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill protects patient access to evidence-based preventive services without deductibles or copays by ensuring Task Force recommendations cannot be downgraded based on Department priorities.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill establishes an open nomination process and clear membership qualifications for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, bringing greater transparency to health expert appointments.
- 11/10/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Elizabeth WarrenDemocrat · Massachusetts