I often disturb the status quo by asking uncomfortable questions.
Well, Im not going to apologize for that.
The department accounts for $1.7 trillion in federal spending.
Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images
Here are six key topics from the hearings:
1.
If the data is there, I will absolutely do that, Kennedy said.
Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, is considered a key vote in the confirmation.
He said he had not yet decided if he would support Kennedy.
There are at least five national vaccine safety monitoring systems operated by the HHS.
He said those systems dont capture enough data.
Several Republican lawmakers gave him room to discuss his proposals for improving nutrition and environmental safety.
He also suggested diverting resources from infectious disease research to studying chronic disease.
Kennedy said he would give infectious disease a break because thats been the principal preoccupation of the NIH.
He told Senator Bernie Sanders he believes addressing climate change is essential for protecting Americans health.
He said he agrees to disagree with Trump on the legitimacy of climate change.
Medicaid and Medicare Policies
Kennedy struggled to answer some basic questions about Medicaid and Medicare policy.
He suggested reducing Medicaid premiums and deductibles, although Medicaid is for low-income Americans and does not charge premiums.
Kennedy is a proponent of expanding Medicare Advantage, a program that offers patients private insurance using Medicare funds.
The program has beencriticizedfor misleading patients and overbilling the government.
Our ship is sinking, Kennedy told Senator Cortez Masto.
Under theInflation Reduction Act(IRA), those negotiations should continue through at least 2028.
Senator Elizabeth Warren sparred with Kennedy over his history of profiting off of the vaccine skepticism he sowed.
The firm pays Kennedy for each patient he refers.
He refused to agree to that.
Youre making me sound like a shill, Kennedy said.
Kennedy can kill off access to vaccines and make millions.
Kids might die, but Kennedy can keep cashing in.
For years, Kennedy had advocated for abortion rights.
He self-identified as pro-choice during his 2024 presidential campaign.
We shouldnt have the government involved, even if its full-term.
In front of the Senate committees, however, he was adamant in his anti-abortion views.
Kennedy said he would support Trumps policies on abortion.
I agree with him that the states should control abortion, Kennedy said.
Mifepristone has been FDA-approved for almost 25 years, and more than 40 studies support its safety.
Health Conspiracies
Kennedy has long touted fringe theories and conspiracies.
Murphy submitted the evidence to the record.
Did you say Lyme disease is a highly likely, militarily engineered by a weapon?
I probably did say that, Kennedy responded.
The Senate committees will soon decide whether to advance his nomination.
2021;40(9):1465-1472. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2021.00619
