Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, appeared to be unfamiliar with basic elements of the Medicare and Medicaid programs during his second Senate confirmation hearing.

Trump’s pick for health secretary showed a poor understanding of a key part of the job.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump's controversial pick for secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), faced a barrage of questions from lawmakers at his first confirmation hearing Wednesday. Driving the news: Kennedy seemed to struggle when Sen.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. struggled to answer questions from Sen. Bill Cassidy (R., La.,) about Medicare and Medicaid. When asked about how care for people who are eligible for both federal health programs could be integrated,

Senators grilled Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on if and how he would reform Medicaid and Medicare during his first confirmation hearing to become the next secretary of Health and Human Services.

Kennedy Jr.'s statements before the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday revealed a concerning lack of knowledge about the major health programs he'd oversee, should he be confirmed as HHS secretary.

If approved, Kennedy will control a $1.7 trillion agency that oversees food and hospital inspections, hundreds of health clinics, vaccine recommendations and health insurance for roughly half the country.

During his testimony, Kennedy falsely claimed that “most Americans are not happy” with Medicaid because “the premiums are too high.” Both ends of that statement are wildly incorrect — the vast majority of recipients within the income-based program do not pay premiums at all, and Americans are broadly supportive of Medicaid.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. incorrectly said that Medicaid was fully funded by the federal government and that Medicare is a fee-for-service program during a hearing in front of the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday.

On Capitol Hill, one of President Trump’s most consequential and controversial nominees made his case for the top job at the Department of Health and Human Services. In his first of two hearings, former environmental lawyer and presidential candidate Robert F.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. struggled Wednesday to answer questions about Medicare and Medicaid or to provide details about how he would work to drive down health care costs.