Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the candidate of the US President Trump, who is a secretary for health and human services, testifies to the hearing of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, Labor and Pension on Capitol Hill in Washington, USA, January 30, 2025.
Nathan Howard | Reuters
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump's election to head the Ministry of Health and Human Services, seemed to be not familiar on Thursday during his second hearing to confirm the Senate with basic elements of the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
“You want us to confirm that you are responsible for Medicare, but it seems that you do not know the basics of this program” Medicare before the Senate Committee for Health, Education, Work and Pensions.
If confirmed confirmed, Kennedy will lead an agency of 1.7 trillion dollars that supervises a number of federal health agencies. This includes the centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that manage the state -financed health care of millions of Americans, including seniors, people with disabilities and patients with lower incomes who rely on Medicare, Medicaid and the markets of the Affordable Care Act.
The 71 -year -old Kennedy stumbled when answering questions about Medicare and Medicaid during his two confirmation hearings this week. He appeared on Wednesday before the Finance Finance Committee.
Hassan, who sits on both panels, asked Kennedy to explain on Thursday what every part of Medicare is. However, he tried to identify and explain the basic aspects of the program, cover the older and disabled Americans.
When asked what Medicare is for, Kennedy said that it was “mainly for basic care or doctors”. Hassan made it clear that it was reporting for seniors who receive inpatient care in hospitals.
When asked what Medicare is part B, Kennedy said that it was “for doctors and doctors”. Part B is a cover for a number of medical services such as visits to the doctor, outpatient clinic, budget health, certain medical care and preventive services.
When asked what Medicare part C is, Kennedy called it “the full menu of all services – A, B, C and D.” Hassan found that part C is also called Medicare advantage and is conducted by Medicare privately owned. These plans serve as an alternative to traditional Medicare plans.
Kennedy insisted that he “only explained the basics of the program”, but Hassan said that she had to correct him on several things.
The New Hampshire senator also grilled Kennedy during the hearing on Wednesday when he seemed to be confused with MedicAid with Medicaid.
The state-federal Medicaid program offers around 80 million Americans, including many people with low incomes. The Republicans could address Medicaid, which costs the federal government more than $ 600 billion a year, for the financing of reductions this year to support tax cuts in paying tax cuts.
Kennedy described Medicaid on Wednesday as “fully paid” by the federal government, although the program is also financed by states.
On Thursday, Kennedy admitted that the program was financed together by the Federal Government and the States, and added that he “stated” something wrong during the hearing on Wednesday.
At the end of this hearing on Wednesday, Senator Ron Wyden, D-ORE., The ranking member of the Finance Committee said that Kennedy was “unprepared” and suggested not knowing the difference between Medicare and Medicaid.
“My colleagues have seen Medicare and Medicaid back and forth, and it is not clear which program they use, when,” said Wyden.
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