Do The Recommendations Of The United States Preventive Services Task Force Really Mean Anything?

The healthcare bill released on November 19,2009, can be found at the Defend Your Healthcare website.  In that bill, on Page 1189, under the heading:

“SEC. 4105. EVIDENCE-BASED COVERAGE OF PREVENTIVE

SERVICES IN MEDICARE.”

 

is a section that explains that the United States Preventive Task Force has the authority to modify or eliminate coverage of certain preventive services.  In other words, if this bill is passed, the government will now have the right to tell you that you cannot have a mammogram before age 50.  Since this task force will form the guidelines for individual insurance coverage (assuming there will still be private insurance), private insurance companies will not have to cover any tests the government decides are unnecessary.  Do you really want a government task force determining the kind of health services you are able to receive?