United States Preventive Services Task Force
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is "an independent panel of experts in primary care and prevention that systematically reviews the evidence of effectiveness and develops recommendations for clinical preventive services." The task force, a panel of primary care physicians and epidemiologists, is funded, staffed, and appointed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
The USPSTF does not consider cost-effectiveness. Recommendations are based solely upon evidence of medical benefit to the patient, no matter how expensive it is.
Purpose
The USPSTF evaluates scientific evidence to determine whether medical screenings, counseling, and preventive medications work for adults and children who have no symptoms.
Methods
The methods of evidence synthesis used by the Task Force have been described in detail. In 2007, their methods were revised.
No weight given to cost-effectiveness