Reaction mixed to RFK Jr.’s confirmation as HHS secretary

RFK Jr. testifies before the Senate Finance Committee

Photo: Senate Finance Committee

The Senate on Thursday voted 52-48 largely along party lines to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the new secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky joined with Democrats to oppose the nomination.

Those opposed have voiced concern over Kennedy’s controversial views on vaccines.

Within the healthcare community, reaction has been mixed.

The American Hospital Association released a brief statement when asked.

AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack said, “The AHA looks forward to working with Secretary Kennedy on behalf of hospitals and health systems to improve healthcare access, enhance patient care and ensure a healthier future for all Americans.”

The American Medical Association has remained relatively silent. Physician members of the AMA have expressed concern with the absence of clear statements from their organization concerning Trump administration proposals and his HHS pick, according to Mother Jones.

Other groups have spoken out, including PhRMA, which has been against the former administration’s policies to control drug prices by mandating price negotiations with pharmaceutical manufacturers. Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America President and CEO Stephen J. Ubl said PhRMA looked forward to working with Kennedy, the Trump administration and Congress for the United States to remain a global leader in biomedical innovation. 

“American patients have more choices and more access to the most innovative medicines because of policies that encourage risk taking, collaboration and competition,” Ubl said by statement. “Strengthening the ecosystem by fixing the flaws of government price setting will help us win the global race for medical innovation.”
 
Ubl blamed insurers and PBMs, as well as hospitals that abuse the 340B program, for high drug prices.

Groups representing reproductive and transgender rights have been vocal in their opposition to Kennedy’s confirmation.

Dr. Jamila Perritt, president & CEO of Physicians for Reproductive Health, said: “I am deeply alarmed to see a proponent of misinformation, disinformation, and pseudoscience get confirmed as our nation’s Secretary of Health and Human Services. RFK Jr. has a proven history of exploiting, endangering, and harming communities with his antiquated and uninformed race-based medicine theories, anti-vaccination stances, including causing a public health emergency leading to the loss of many lives in Samoa, and deep lack of understanding of basic medical and scientific evidence.”

Sinead Murano-Kinney, health policy analyst at Advocates for Trans Equality, said, “His disregard for scientific evidence and embrace of misinformation endanger vulnerable populations, including trans people, intersex people, people living with HIV, and low-income families relying on Medicaid.” 

Organizations that have applauded Kennedy’s confirmation include the Coalition for a Prosperous America and Independent Medical Alliance.

“For far too long, America has been at the mercy of foreign producers that routinely violate FDA safety regulations for life-saving medicines, generic drugs and essential medical equipment,” said CPA President Jon Toomey. “Secretary Kennedy understands the urgent need to reshore this critical sector, and his leadership at HHS will be key to achieving that goal. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the vulnerabilities of relying on overseas supply chains, and we cannot afford to remain dependent on adversarial nations for our most essential healthcare needs.”

Independent Medical Alliance President and CMO Dr. Joseph Varon said: “This is an historic day for healthcare in America, and one that will be written about for centuries to come. Few thought we’d ever see this day. But frontline docs fought hard for wholesale changes after the eye-opening, heavy handed government response to COVID-19. Today all of that effort has paid off. Americans demand reform to a broken system that spends more money on healthcare than any other industrialized nation, yet delivers some of the worst outcomes. Everything must now be on the table, from the food we eat to the medicines that Big Pharma has peddled on healthcare consumers.”  

Other groups gave their congratulations and expressed optimism for the new leadership.

CSRxP (The Campaign for Sustainable Rx Pricing) spokesman Jon Conradi said: “Secretary Kennedy has expressed interest in several longstanding areas of focus for CSRxP, including fostering greater competition in the prescription drug marketplace by cracking down on Big Pharma’s patent abuse and exercising greater scrutiny over brand name manufacturers’ massive spending on direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising for blockbuster products.”

Better Medicare Alliance President and CEO Mary Beth Donahue said: “We congratulate Secretary Kennedy on his confirmation and stand ready to work with him to protect and strengthen Medicare Advantage for America’s seniors. Secretary Kennedy and this administration can keep President Trump’s promise to protect Medicare for seniors by supporting Medicare Advantage with adequate funding and a stable regulatory approach.”

Patients For Affordable Drugs Responds Executive Director Merith Basey said:”Secretary Kennedy has a critical opportunity – and responsibility – to build on existing measures to rein in Big Pharma’s price-gouging and lower drug costs for patients. We are ready to work with him to ensure Medicare drug price negotiations continue, out-of-pocket costs are reduced and competition in the marketplace is increased through reforms to end abusive pharmaceutical monopolies that harm patients.”
 
The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology congratulated Kennedy and said it hoped the secretary would work with them to cut red tape, decrease costs, maintain quality and increase access to healthcare in his efforts to Make America Healthy Again. 

America’s Community Health Centers said it looked forward to working with newly appointed U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Email the writer: SMorse@himss.org