The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 charges the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) with making an annual report to Congress that identifies gaps in the evidence base for clinical preventive services and recommends priority areas that deserve further examination.
The Task Force hopes that by annually highlighting high-priority evidence gaps, as requested by Congress, it will assist public and private researchers and research funders in targeting their efforts, ensuring a collaborative approach to improving preventive health and health care for all Americans.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force - Annual Reports
 | In 2024, the Task Force’s “14th Annual Report to Congress on High-Priority Evidence Gaps for Clinical Preventive Services” reflects on 40 years of improving health through preventive recommendations and calls attention to high-priority research gaps related to promoting health across the lifespan, in all communities. The report also reinforces the USPSTF’s commitment to improving health equity by highlighting research gaps in underserved populations and high-risk groups. |
 | In 2023, the Task Force’s “13th Annual Report to Congress on High-Priority Evidence Gaps for Clinical Preventive Services" calls attention to high-priority research gaps related to promoting mental health and wellness for people of all ages. The report reinforces the Task Force’s commitment to improving health equity by highlighting research gaps that are reflective of populations that are most affected by anxiety disorders, depression, and suicidal thoughts or behaviors. |
 | In 2022, the Task Force’s “12th Annual Report to Congress on High-Priority Evidence Gaps for Clinical Preventive Services” calls attention to high-priority research gaps related to promoting healthy behaviors throughout life. The report reinforces the Task Force’s commitment to improving health equity by highlighting research gaps specific to high-risk populations.
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 | In 2021, the Task Force’s “11th Annual Report to Congress on High-Priority Evidence Gaps for Clinical Preventive Services" calls attention to high-priority research gaps related to health equity from recent recommendations on cardiovascular disease and cancer prevention. This report is part of the Task Force’s long-standing commitment to advancing health equity.
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 | In 2020, the Task Force’s “10th Annual Report to Congress on High-Priority Evidence Gaps for Clinical Preventive Services” calls attention to high-priority research gaps from its recommendations related to child and adolescent health and health inequities, including mental and behavioral health, substance use, and obesity. Research into these complex health issues will help clinicians meaningfully assist patients and their families in preventing them and reducing health inequities. |
 | In 2019, the Task Force’s “Ninth Annual Report to Congress on High-Priority Evidence Gaps for Clinical Preventive Services” highlights research gaps from its recommendations related to mental illness, substance use, and violence prevention. These important topics affect the health and well-being of many Americans. The report calls for more high-quality research to understand these complex health issues and how clinicians can meaningfully assist their patients in preventing them. |
 | In 2018, the Task Force’s “Eighth Annual Report to Congress on High-Priority Evidence Gaps for Clinical Preventive Services” highlights seven recent topics related to cancer prevention and cardiovascular health, the leading causes of death among adults in the United States, for which more research is needed. The report also calls for more research in populations who are disproportionally affected by these conditions, yet often underrepresented in studies. Future research in these areas can help fill these gaps and could result in important new recommendations that will help to improve the health of Americans. |
 | In 2017, the Task Force’s “Seventh Annual Report to Congress on High-Priority Evidence Gaps for Clinical Preventive Services” identifies evidence gaps related to five recent topics for which the current evidence was insufficient for the Task Force to make a recommendation, including screening for celiac disease and screening for obstructive sleep apnea. The USPSTF also identified evidence gaps that prevent it from making recommendations for specific racial/ethnic populations and age groups. These gaps include screening for prostate cancer in African American men and screening for illicit drug use in children and adolescents. Future research in these areas can help fill these gaps and could result in important new recommendations that will help to improve the health of Americans. |
 | In 2016, the Task Force's "Sixth Annual Report to Congress on High-Priority Evidence Gaps for Clinical Preventive Services" prioritizes evidence gaps related to six recent topics, including autism screening and tobacco smoking cessation with electronic nicotine delivery systems. The Task Force also identified specific populations for which evidence gaps exist, such as screening for breast cancer in African American women. Research in these areas would generate much needed evidence for important new recommendations to improve the health and health care of Americans. |
 | In 2015, the Task Force's “Fifth Annual Report to Congress on High-Priority Evidence Gaps for Clinical Preventive Services” prioritizes evidence gaps related to women's health. Research in these areas would generate much needed evidence for important new recommendations to improve the health and health care of women in the United States. |
 | In 2014, the Task Force's “Fourth Annual Report to Congress on High-Priority Evidence Gaps for Clinical Preventive Services” identified evidence gaps gaps related to the care of children and adolescents. More research in these areas would result in important new knowledge that may improve the health and health care of young Americans, with lasting benefits through adulthood. |
 | In 2013, the Task Force's “Third Annual Report to Congress on High-Priority Evidence Gaps for Clinical Preventive Services” identified evidence gaps related to the care of older adults. More research in these areas would likely result in new recommendations that will help improve the health and health care of older Americans. |
 | In 2012, the Task Force's “Second Annual Report to Congress on High-Priority Evidence Gaps for Clinical Preventive Services” identified specific topics from its past year of work as having important evidence gaps that may be addressed through research. More research in these areas would likely result in important new recommendations that will help to improve the health of Americans. |
 | In its “First Annual Report to Congress on High-Priority Evidence Gaps for Clinical Preventive Services,” the Task Force identified four screening tests and three behavioral interventions with significant evidence gaps deserving further research. |
Community Preventive Services Task Force
 | Complementing the work of the USPSTF, preventive services at the community level are addressed by the Community Preventive Services Task Force, which also issues an annual report to Congress. Click here to read its “2022 Annual Report to Congress.” |
Congressional Testimony
On November 30, 2016, Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, former chair of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Health on all aspects of the Task Force’s mission, processes, and transparency efforts. Her full written testimony submitted to the committee can be found here.
Current as of: November 2024
Internet Citation: Reports to Congress. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. November 2020.