By AMANDA SEITZ, Related Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — 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 thousands and 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 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 youngsters. Republicans have mentioned they could must make deep cuts to Medicaid to fund President Donald Trump’s proposals.
“I don’t have a broad proposal for dismantling the program,” Kennedy mentioned.
Kennedy additionally inaccurately claimed that Medicaid is absolutely paid for by the federal authorities — it’s 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 had been peppered in between solutions that he would search to push privatization of the applications, repeatedly saying that almost all Individuals like non-public insurance coverage and that they dislike the federal government run variations of the applications.
Kennedy is looking for to guide 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 lots of of group well being clinics.
In typically heated exchanges on Wednesday, Kennedy denied that he’s anti-vaccine. However Kennedy, who identified that his youngsters are vaccinated, acknowledged he has requested “uncomfortable questions” about vaccinations.
“I believe that vaccines play a critical role in health care,” Kennedy informed 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 mentioning that Kennedy has beforehand claimed there’s “no safe” vaccine, initiating a backwards and forwards between him and Kennedy. Wyden additionally quoted from Kennedy’s books, which say that oldsters have been “misled” on the measles vaccine.
“You have spent years pushing conflicting stories 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’s headed up a nonprofit that has sued the federal government over its authorizations of vaccines. He’s mentioned there may be “no vaccine that is safe and effective” 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.
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 needs to supply extra info to individuals.
“I don’t want to take food away from anybody,” he mentioned. “If you like a cheeseburger – a McDonald’s cheeseburger and a diet Coke like my boss — you should be able to get them.”
Kennedy hails from one of many nation’s most storied political households and is the son of the late Lawyer 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 impartial however deserted his bid over the summer time after placing 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 gained the presidential election, saying Kennedy would “end the Chronic Disease epidemic” and “Make America Great and Healthy Again!” As one among essentially the most outstanding anti-vaccine activists on the planet, Kennedy’s nomination instantly alarmed some public well being officers.
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