WASHINGTON: In a contentious affirmation listening to to be the nation’s high well being official Robert F Kennedy Jr. struggled to reply questions on how he would reform Medicaid or Medicare, the federal government well being care applications utilized by tens of millions of disabled, poor and older Individuals.
Republican Sen. Invoice Cassidy of Louisiana, a doctor and key vote Kennedy must win, repeatedly pressed the nominee on Wednesday (Jan 29) to share methods he plans to reform Medicaid, a multibillion-dollar taxpayer-funded program that covers well being look after about 80 million folks, together with kids. Republicans have mentioned they may have to make deep cuts to Medicaid to fund President Donald Trump’s proposals.
“I haven’t got a broad proposal for dismantling this system,” Kennedy mentioned.
Kennedy additionally inaccurately claimed that Medicaid is totally paid for by the federal authorities — it is not; states and federal taxpayers fund it. He additionally mentioned most Individuals have bought a Medicare Benefit plan when solely about 1 in 10 Individuals have.
His misstatements about this system have been peppered in between recommendations that he would search to push privatization of the applications, repeatedly saying that the majority Individuals like personal insurance coverage and that they dislike the government-run variations of the applications.
Kennedy is in search of to guide a $1.7 trillion Division of Well being and Human Companies company that may oversee vaccine suggestions in addition to meals inspections, hospital oversight and funding for lots of of group well being clinics.
RFK DENIED HE IS ANTI-VACCINE, DESPITE CONTRARY EVIDENCE
In generally heated exchanges on Wednesday, Kennedy denied that he’s anti-vaccine. However Kennedy, who identified that his kids are vaccinated, acknowledged he has requested “uncomfortable questions” about vaccinations.
“I consider that vaccines play a vital function in well being care,” Kennedy instructed the Senate Finance Committee.
Republicans didn’t ask Kennedy about his vaccine views in the course of the first hour of the listening to.
However Democrats homed in, with Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon declaring that Kennedy had beforehand claimed there was “no protected” vaccine, initiating a backwards and forwards between him and Kennedy. Wyden additionally quoted from Kennedy’s books, which say that oldsters have been “misled” in regards to the measles vaccine.
“You’ve spent years pushing conflicting tales about vaccines,” Wyden mentioned.
Over a few years, Kennedy has been clear about his beliefs on vaccines in dozens of interviews, podcasts and social media posts.
He is headed up a nonprofit that has sued the federal government over its authorizations of vaccines. He is mentioned there’s “no vaccine that’s protected and efficient,” and repeatedly known as for additional examine of routine childhood vaccinations, regardless of many years of analysis and real-world use that proves they’ve safely prevented illness.
SENATORS ASKED HIM ABOUT FOOD, ABORTION & AGRICULTURE
Republicans narrowed in on questions on agriculture, meals and the abortion tablet, which many ladies entry over telehealth.
Kennedy tried to guarantee senators that he wouldn’t search widespread bans on vaccines or meals, saying he desires to offer extra data to folks.
“I don’t wish to take meals away from anyone,” he mentioned. “In case you like a cheeseburger – a McDonald’s cheeseburger and a Eating regimen Coke like my boss — you need to be capable of get them.”
Kennedy hails from one of many nation’s most storied political households and is the son of the late Legal professional Common Robert F. Kennedy and the nephew of President John F. Kennedy.
He first challenged President Joe Biden for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination. He then ran as an unbiased however deserted his bid over the summer time after hanging a deal to endorse Trump, a Republican, in alternate for a promise to serve in a well being coverage function throughout a second Trump administration.
Trump chosen Kennedy in November, shortly after he received the presidential election, saying Kennedy would “finish the Persistent Illness epidemic” and “Make America Nice and Wholesome Once more!” However Kennedy’s nomination instantly alarmed some public well being officers.
A number of the nation’s most conservative lawmakers have been apprehensive about how Kennedy would deal with abortion as well being secretary. HHS can affect abortion and reproductive well being entry in a number of methods, together with with tens of millions of {dollars} in grants it sends to Deliberate Parenthood and laws round abortion drugs.
Beneath the Biden administration, the company additionally mentioned hospitals have been required to offer emergency abortions for pregnant ladies in medical misery.
On Monday, performing HHS Secretary Dorothy Fink signalled the company is ready to undertake a harder stance on abortion below Kennedy. She ordered the company to analyze all of its applications to ensure no taxpayer cash goes towards elective abortions.
RFK’S COUSIN CAROLINE KENNEDY SAYS HE IS NOT QUALIFIED
In a letter despatched to US senators on Tuesday, RJK’s cousin and former US Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy shared surprising private particulars about him, saying he’s not certified for the well being secretary job and his views on vaccines are an issue.
She notes that whereas she admired him for overcoming drug habit, she mentioned he has gone on to “misrepresent, lie, and cheat his approach by way of life.” In an excessive anecdote, she accused him of internet hosting drug-fueled gatherings in his basement, dorm and storage the place he “loved exhibiting off how he put child chickens and mice within the blender to feed his hawks.”
In the meantime, one other cousin, former Rhode Island congressman and Democrat Patrick J. Kennedy threw his help behind the well being secretary nominee in an opinion piece for The Washington Publish on Tuesday. RFK Jr. helped pull him out of habit, Patrick J. Kennedy mentioned.
“Bobby was the primary member of the family to name and supply his private and public help, even at a time when some in my household criticized me for breaking the so-called household code of silence,” he wrote.
