In testimony to the Senate Finance Committee, Mr. Kennedy seemed to confuse the two government programs that cover more than 150 million Americans.

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.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr sat before the Senate for 2 separate hearings, to decide the fate of his confirmation as secretary of HHS.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nominee for HHS secretary, seemed unfamiliar with the massive insurance program during Thursday’s hearing, mistakenly saying Medicare Part A mainly paid for primary care or physicians.

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,

Kennedy struggled to identify and explain the fundamental aspects of Medicare, which provides coverage to older and disabled Americans.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation hearings made clear that he is unqualified to be HHS secretary even beyond his positions on vaccines, writes Dr. Georges C. Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association.

RFK Jr.'s second Senate confirmation hearing focused on vaccines, Medicare, diversity, and science. Key Republicans were reticent to show support.

We know the kind of damage that will be done and the lives that will be lost if Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is put in charge of our health care system because we've seen it in action. Kennedy has a well-documented history of opposing life-saving vaccines, and he has pledged to stop funding research for treatments and cures for deadly diseases.

During confirmation hearings, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke to SNAP and his ideas for integrating nutritional health into federal assistance programs.

President Donald Trump has nominated Kennedy to be the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Medicare and Medicaid and helps enforce the Affordable Care Act commercial health insurance rules.

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.