WASHINGTON: In a contentious affirmation listening to to be the nation’s prime 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 hundreds of thousands 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 take care of about 80 million individuals, together with kids. Republicans have mentioned they may must 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 absolutely paid for by the federal authorities — it isn’t; 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 solutions 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 steer a $1.7 trillion Division of Well being and Human Providers company that may oversee vaccine suggestions in addition to meals inspections, hospital oversight and funding for tons of of group well being clinics.
RFK DENIED HE IS ANTI-VACCINE, DESPITE CONTRARY EVIDENCE
In typically 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 through 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” concerning the measles vaccine.
“You may have 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 needs to offer extra info to individuals.
“I don’t wish to take meals away from anyone,” he mentioned. “For those who like a cheeseburger – a McDonald’s cheeseburger and a Weight loss plan Coke like my boss — it’s best to have the ability to 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 season after hanging a deal to endorse Trump, a Republican, in change 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.
Among 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 hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in grants it sends to Deliberate Parenthood and rules round abortion drugs.
Underneath the Biden administration, the company additionally mentioned hospitals have been required to offer emergency abortions for pregnant girls in medical misery.
On Monday, performing HHS Secretary Dorothy Fink signalled the company is ready to undertake a more durable 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 stunning 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 displaying 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 assist behind the well being secretary nominee in an opinion piece for The Washington Submit 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 assist, even at a time when some in my household criticized me for breaking the so-called household code of silence,” he wrote.
