Thu, 30 Jan 2025

RFK Jr. stumbles over basics of Medicare, Medicaid during Senate confirmation hearings

Kennedy struggled to identify and explain the fundamental aspects of Medicare, which provides coverage to older and disabled Americans.
During a hearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire expressed concern that Kennedy seemed unfamiliar with key aspects of the Medicare program. Hassan asked Kennedy to explain what each part of Medicare is, but he struggled to identify and describe the fundamental elements of the program. When asked about Medicare Part A, Kennedy incorrectly stated it was mainly for primary care or physicians. Hassan clarified that it provides coverage for seniors who receive inpatient hospital care. Kennedy also had trouble explaining Medicare Part B, stating it was for doctors, when in fact it covers a range of medical services including doctor visits and outpatient care. Furthermore, he referred to Medicare Part C as the "full menu" of all the services A, B, and D, which is actually known as Medicare Advantage, a privately run plan contracted by Medicare that serves as an alternative to traditional Medicare plans. Hassan also pressed Kennedy on his comments during Wednesday's hearing, when he seemed to confuse Medicaid with Medicare. Medicaid provides coverage for around 80 million Americans, including many low-income individuals, and is jointly funded by the federal government and states. Kennedy acknowledged that he had misstated something about Medicaid during the previous hearing and stated that it was jointly funded by the federal government and states. At the end of Wednesday's hearing, Sen. Ron Wyden suggested that Kennedy seemed unprepared for the role and didn't seem to know the difference between Medicare and Medicaid. If confirmed, Kennedy will lead a $1.7 trillion agency that oversees various federal health agencies, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which manages government-funded healthcare for millions of Americans.
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