Rfk jr. Stumbles over Basics of Medicare, Medicaid during Senate Confirmation Hearings

Robert f. kennedy jr., President Donald Trump‘S pick to lead the Department of health and human servicesAppeared to be unfamiliar with fundamental elements of the medicine and medicine programs on Confirmation Hearing,

“You want us to confirm you to be in charge of medicine, but it appears that you don’t know the basics of this program,” said democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, After Kennedy Struggled to Answer a series of questions about medicine about medicine on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

If confirmed, kennedy will lead a $ 1.7 trillion agency that oversees a Slew of federal health agencies. That includes the centers for medicine & medicine services, which manages government-funded health care for millions of Americans, including seniors, disabled people and lower-letters who rely. ICAID, and the Affordable Care Act’s Markets.

Kennedy, 71, Stumbled when Answering Questions About Medicare and Medicaid during Bot of His Confirmation Hearings this Week. He appeared before the Senate Committee on Finance on Wednsday.

Hassan, who sits on both panels, asked kennedy on Thursday to explain what each part of medicine is. But he struggled to identify and explain the fundamental aspects of the program, which provides coverage to older and disabled Americans.

When asked wasicare part a is for, kennedy said it is “mainly for primary care or physicians.” Hassan Clarified that it is coverage for seniors who receive inpatient care at hospitals.

Kennedy, when asked What Medicare Part B is, said it is “for physicians and doctors.” Part B is coverage for a range of medical services such as Doctor Visits, Outpatent Care, Home Health, Certain Medical Supplies and Preventive Services.

When asked What Medicare Part C is for, Kennedy Called It “The full menu of all the services – A, B, C and D.” Hassan noted that part c is also known as medicine advantage, which are privately run plans contracted by medicine. Thos plans serving as an alternative to traditional medicine plans.

Kennedy insisted that he “just explained the basics” of the program, but hassan said she Had to Correct Him on Several Things.

The new hampshire senator also grilled kennedy on his comments during the hearing on wedding on wedding, when he appeared to confuse Medicare with Medicaid.

The State-Federal Medicaid Program Provides Coverage to Around 80 Million AmericansIncluding Many low-investment people. Republicans could target medicine, which costs the federal government more than $ 600 billion a year, for funding Reductions this year to help pay for tax cuts.

Kennedy on Wednsday described Medicaid as “Fully paid for” by the federal government, even thought the program is funded by states as well.

On Thursday, Kennedy Acknowledded That The Program is joint Funded by the Federal Government and States, Adding that he “Misstated Somenting” DURING The Hearing The Hearing Wedding.

At the end of that Wednesday Hearing, Sen. Ron wyden, d-em., The ranking member of the Finance Committee, said kennedy was “unprepered” and suggested he Didn’T seem to know the difference between medicine and medicaid.

“My Colleagues Have Been Seeing Back-Rand-Forth Between Medicare and Medicaid, And It’s Not Clear Whoch Program You’re Using When,” Wyden said.