Advocacy - Lab Advocate
President-elect Donald Trump has identified two key officials for advancing his healthcare agenda—Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to serve as the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Mehmet Oz, MD as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Many of the incoming nominees are believed to have been chosen, in part, to act as disruptors —essentially tasked with changing how the government typically operates in their purview.
Kennedy, a Harvard graduate and an environmental lawyer, has a long history of raising concerns about the efficacy of various vaccinations and food additives, as well as the process for reviewing and promoting pharmaceuticals. Beyond controversies surrounding his views on health-related issues, concerns have been raised about his lack of experience in government or directing a large organization.
Dr. Oz, known primarily known as the host of a daytime TV show on health matters, is a cardiothoracic surgeon and a professor emeritus at Columbia University. He ran for the Senate in 2022 losing to Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) 51-46 percent. The CMS nominee has received some praise from lawmakers, who have expressed support for having a physician running the health agency.
While the new administration’s health agenda has not yet been released, Kennedy has stated that the government should focus its attention on reducing chronic disease rates in the United States. One method for achieving this objective is to allocate half of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget towards preventive and alternative approaches to care.
The President-elect stated that he wants to cut fraud and abuse in health programs. This initiative may include establishing a work requirement for individuals participating Medicaid program. Some of the incoming administrations allies in Congress have also referenced the need to cut costs for the Affordable Care Act by reducing the subsidies for individuals to purchase insurance.
ADLM will continue to publish more information on the new administration’s health agenda as it becomes available.