# United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)

## Overview
Independent panel of national experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine that makes recommendations about clinical preventive services. USPSTF A/B recommendations trigger ACA Section 2713 mandatory coverage without cost-sharing for all non-grandfathered insurance plans.

## Key Mechanism
USPSTF recommendations are the most powerful single policy lever for mandating coverage of preventive services in the US healthcare system. Grade A/B recommendations automatically trigger mandatory coverage requirements under the Affordable Care Act.

## Timeline
- **2018-09-18** — Published Grade B recommendation for adult obesity covering intensive multicomponent behavioral interventions (≥12 sessions in year 1); reviewed pharmacotherapy but declined to recommend due to insufficient maintenance data; therapeutic-dose GLP-1 agonists not yet available
- **2024** — Updated children and adolescents obesity recommendation (behavioral-only, did not address adult pharmacotherapy)
- **2026-04** — Adult obesity topic flagged as 'being updated' on website but redirect points toward cardiovascular prevention rather than GLP-1 pharmacotherapy; no formal petition for GLP-1 review publicly announced

## Policy Gap
As of April 2026, the 2018 recommendation remains operative despite substantial clinical evidence base for therapeutic-dose GLP-1 agonists (STEP trials, SURMOUNT trials, SELECT cardiovascular outcomes data) that could support an A/B rating. No formal nomination or petition process for GLP-1 pharmacotherapy review has been initiated.