Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced tough questions during his Senate confirmation hearings for the position of Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Kennedy, who was nominated by President Donald Trump, struggled with basic aspects of the Medicare and Medicaid programs. During the hearings, Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire expressed concerns about Kennedy’s lack of knowledge.
“You want us to confirm you to be in charge of Medicare, but it appears that you don’t know the basics of this program,” Sen. Hassan said. Kennedy incorrectly stated that Medicare Part A is “mainly for primary care or physicians.” In reality, Part A covers inpatient care at hospitals for seniors.
He also stumbled when explaining Medicare Part B, saying it is “for physicians and doctors.” However, Part B actually covers a range of medical services such as doctor visits, outpatient care, home health, certain medical supplies, and preventive services.
Kennedy’s Medicare misconceptions raise concerns
Regarding Medicare Part C, Kennedy called it “the full menu of all the services – A, B, C, and D.” This is not accurate, as Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, are privately run plans contracted by Medicare that serve as an alternative to traditional Medicare plans.
Sen. Hassan also questioned Kennedy about his comments on Medicaid, the state-federal program that provides coverage to low-income people. Kennedy initially described Medicaid as “fully paid for” by the federal government, even though the program is funded by both the federal government and states.
On Thursday, Kennedy acknowledged his mistake and corrected his statement. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., the ranking member of the Finance Committee, suggested that Kennedy didn’t seem to know the difference between Medicare and Medicaid.
“My colleagues have been seeing back-and-forth between Medicare and Medicaid, and it’s not clear which program you’re using when,” Wyden said. As the hearings continue, questions remain about whether Kennedy will receive confirmation to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, given his apparent unfamiliarity with key aspects of Medicare and Medicaid. If confirmed, Kennedy will be responsible for overseeing a $1.7 trillion agency that manages government-funded health care for millions of Americans, including seniors, disabled people, and lower-income patients.