During his Senate confirmation hearing, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s nominee for the Department of Health and Human Services, stumbled when asked about potential changes to Medicaid. He would oversee the implementation of Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act if confirmed. Democratic senator Ron Wyden criticized Kennedy for being unprepared and confused about the differences between Medicaid and Medicare. Republican senator Bill Cassidy pressed Kennedy on Medicaid reform and he expressed that most people on Medicaid are not happy with high premiums, deductibles, and limited networks. Kennedy suggested experimenting with pilot programs in each state to focus on value-based care and improving health outcomes. However, he did not provide specific proposals. Kennedy also mentioned that Trump wants people to have high-quality health insurance, despite claiming that Medicaid isn’t producing positive health outcomes. A study found that Medicaid expansion from the Affordable Care Act reduced deaths from all causes and improved physical health for older adults. Wyden remained skeptical of Kennedy’s responses, especially regarding his thoughts on Medicare Advantage, which he indicated he might support privatizing. Dr. Mehmet Oz, another Trump nominee, has also argued for privatizing Medicare.
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