Will Trump & RFK Jr. Address the Real Drug Pricing Scam?
The health care landscape in America is set for a dramatic overhaul as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a controversial choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), prepares to take office. While concerns swirl around Kennedy’s fringe medical views and his history of spreading misinformation, there’s one glimmer of hope for healthcare reform advocates.
Reports suggest Kennedy may target the way Medicare, the government’s healthcare program for seniors, pays doctors and hospitals.
Currently, Medicare’s payment structure favors complex procedures and specialty care over primary care and preventative measures. This skew drives down the value placed on proactive health management, ultimately contributing to the exorbitant cost of care in the US.
This system disadvantages Americans and benefits those catering to illness, not wellness.
“This is a big part of the story of why we pay our doctors so much more than doctors in other wealthy countries," notes economist Dean Baker.
Calley Means, a key advisor to Kennedy, recently echoed these concerns on X plat: "Medicare’s payment codes embed a system that waits for Americans to get sick and profits from it."
Furthermore, Kennedy’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Super PAC has stated its support for "policies that promote preventative healthcare." This focus, if translated into action, could mark a significant step toward addressing the root causes of high healthcare costs, rather than simply treating symptoms.
However, Kennedy’s administration faces fierce opposition. Conservative think tanks, including the Heritage Foundation and the America First Policy Institute, fueled by big pharma lobbying, have outlined plans to further enrich private health insurance companies while privatizing Medicare — a move that would ultimately strip seniors of choice and broaden insurance companies’ control.
These conservative plans aim to make Medicare Advantage, a private option within Medicare, the default for newly eligible participants. This shift, already underway during Trump’s first term, shrinks the traditional Medicare program, which allows seniors to choose any doctor they wish. Full-scale privatization would line the pockets of insurance giants while leaving countless seniors with limited options.
Adding to the complexity is Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s history of spreading baseless claims about vaccines and pharmaceuticals. While advocating for Medicare reform is positive, his success remains in question given his willingness to promote dangerous misinformation that undermines public health.
The incoming administration faces a stark choice:
Will they tackle the real health care scam – the exorbitant drug costing Americans more than citizens of other developed nations? Or will they use their platform to spread harmful conspiracy theories, distracting from genuine solutions and jeopardizing the trust needed to enact meaningful change? The stakes are high.
As Kennedy steps into his new role, the American people must demand both proven, evidence-based solutions, and a clear commitment to truth and science.
