The Department of Health and Human Services, overseen by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., on Tuesday asked for nominations to the influential task force that decides which preventive medical care ​is provided at no cost to patients.

The Preventive Services Task Force, ⁠which typically has 16 members, last ​met over a year ago. Three successive ⁠planned meetings were canceled and new members have not been named to replace the five ‌volunteers whose terms expired in ​December.

"That task force ‌has been lackadaisical. It's not been doing its ‌job," Kennedy told a House committee earlier this month.

A division of HHS ⁠on Tuesday said ‌it is ⁠seeking clinicians and researchers to be nominated to ⁠the ⁠task force "including but not limited to" specialties such as ‌cardiology, oncology, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, family medicine, and health economics. Nominations are due by May 23.

Medical ‌experts ​say Kennedy's ‌sidelining of the panel has delayed updates to screening guidelines for cancer, ​heart disease, and other conditions.