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 People.
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 individuals, together with kids. Republicans have mentioned they could 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 isn’t; states and federal taxpayers fund it. He additionally mentioned most People have bought a Medicare Benefit plan when solely about 1 in 10 People have.
His misstatements about this system have been peppered in between ideas that he would search to push privatization of the applications, repeatedly saying that almost all People like personal insurance coverage and that they dislike the government-run variations of the applications.
Kennedy is searching for to steer a $1.7 trillion Division of Well being and Human Providers company that can oversee vaccine suggestions in addition to meals inspections, hospital oversight and funding for lots of of neighborhood 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 imagine that vaccines play a vital function in well being care,” Kennedy informed 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 stating that Kennedy had beforehand claimed there was “no secure” 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 have got 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 may be “no vaccine that’s secure 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 capsule, 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 individuals.
“I don’t need to take meals away from anyone,” he mentioned. “In case you like a cheeseburger – a McDonald’s cheeseburger and a Weight-reduction plan Coke like my boss — it’s best 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 Basic 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 placing a deal to endorse Trump, a Republican, in trade 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 Power Illness epidemic” and “Make America Nice and Wholesome Once more!” However Kennedy’s nomination instantly alarmed some public well being officers.
A few of the nation’s most conservative lawmakers have been fearful 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 capsules.
Underneath 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 verify 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 dependancy, she mentioned he has gone on to “misrepresent, lie, and cheat his method by 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 Put up on Tuesday. RFK Jr. helped pull him out of dependancy, Patrick J. Kennedy mentioned.
“Bobby was the primary member of the family to name and provide 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.
