On November 14, President-elect Trump named Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). So what will it mean if Kennedy becomes the administrator of HHS?
In the 2024 U.S. presidential race, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. introduced a health care platform aimed at reshaping the nation’s health policies under the banner of “Make America Healthy Again.” RFK, Jr.’s approach to health care is rooted in his longstanding commitment to environmental activism and public health advocacy, and a deep skepticism of the pharmaceutical industry.
Let’s explore the key components of RFK Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” plan, and whether those components will succeed or fail.
Universal Health care Access
A core tenet of Kennedy’s platform is the commitment to provide universal health care—ensuring that every American has access to affordable medical services, regardless of income or employment status. Knowing how hard it was to pass the Affordable Care Act (ACA), it is extremely doubtful that RFK, Jr. could influence Congress to develop legislation on universal health care. His plans have been criticized by both the right and the left as leading to higher taxes, ballooning federal deficits, or overburdened state governments, particularly without a clear plan for how to pay for such reforms.
Focusing on Prevention and Holistic Health
Kennedy’s plan emphasizes a different approach to health care, focusing on preventive measures and lifestyle changes to reduce the incidence of chronic disease (rather than traditional medicine). His plan emphasizes better nutrition, mental health services, exercise, and education on lifestyle choices as well as integrating alternative therapies such as acupuncture, naturopathy, psychedelics, and holistic treatments.
While some are welcoming the inclusion of additional types of health care, there is great concern in the scientific community that integrating these into the health care system could potentially result in patients choosing ineffective or even harmful treatments over scientifically-backed medical care.
In addition, Kennedy is known for his anti-vaccine rhetoric, which raises concerns about how his stance on alternative medicine might affect the broader public health landscape. Critics are concerned Kennedy could encourage the spread of misinformation and harm public health.
While portions of his ideas are likely to be adopted as they are already in play (better nutrition, increased access to mental health), expect great resistance from Congress, the feeral agencies, and the scientific community over scientifically unproven ideas.
Reducing Industry Influence on Health Care
RFK, Jr. has been one of the most vocal critics of the pharmaceutical industry, particularly its influence on health care policies and practices. Kennedy proposes sweeping reforms to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Kennedy feels these agencies have become “sock puppets for the industries they are supposed to regulate.” While some proposals in his plan such as greater transparency at the FDA on drug and vaccine approvals could achieve bipartisan support, he will find great bureaucratic and Congressional resistance to his proposals to “fire everyone at the FDA,” implement reference pricing at CMS, or “immediately replace 600 NIH employees.”
Environmental Health Focus
Kennedy’s platform connects public health with environmental policy, acknowledging that many diseases are exacerbated or caused by environmental factors like pollution, pesticide, or chemical exposure. While Kennedy may receive some support regarding banning chemical additives from food, many of his other policies (like taking fluoride out of drinking water and promoting raw milk) will receive significant push back.
While the Make America Healthy Again Plan aims to address many critical issues in the U.S. health care system, these potential downsides highlight the challenges of balancing cost, access, quality of care, and government involvement. The effectiveness of the plan will largely depend on the specifics of his policies and how they are implemented.
