To use a phrase that everyone detests, is this the new normal for how the HHS will lead in our country and make everyone healthy again? On February 13, 2025 Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. was sworn in as 26th Secretary at HHS, and following President Trump signs Executive Order to “Make America Healthy Again”. So finally we have someone that wants us to be healthy? Is it that simple? Apparently America thinks so.
Kennedy makes a strong case as he lists the downward spiral of our youngest generation’s population health compared to those before in his welcoming remarks to his new staff. He further praises the NIH, CDC, and FDA as once the gold standard for science that was trusted around the world. After all “science and democracy were born together”. Saying now we are not the shining beacon on the hill anymore and we need to earn back the public trust. And what would be that path? “The path to public trust is always through transparency.”
Healthcare policy forever has been a fight and controversy between political parties, but the fight has always been who pays for it. The “new” question Kennedy wants to ask is, “regardless who pays, why are we paying so much?” That would be $4 trillion on scale more that any other nation. He hypothesizes because we are the sickest nation in the world with the highest chronic disease burden in history. He claims 90% of spending goes to chronic disease, compared to JFK presidency of 0%.
His mission at HHS is to “reverse the chronic disease epidemic in America”. He claims he will not impose his beliefs over others. But together “we will launch a new era of radical transparency”. Throughout his trips down memory lane and growing up in the golden era of the Kennedy’s he repeats the theme that transparency will be our savior and secrecy will be our continued downfall. He vows to remove conflicts of interest on the committees and research partners when ever possible or balance them with other stake holders. They will make their data and policy process so transparent there will be no need to FOIA filings.
Stating that the HHS agencies have lost the people’s trust is because they have become to politicized and our health should not be a political issue. It should be an issue of science and basic human compassion. HHS manages almost half Americans in Medicare and Medicaid. And a vow to be sure no one is left behind or left out and setting to aim for courtesy, efficiency, professionalism, and integrity. Kennedy asks his colleagues to put aside the public perceptions of him and form their own relationships with him. He promises to be willing to be wrong on his previously concluded notions, listen, and keep an open mind.
I am sure in theory, who cannot get behind this?
Make America Healthy Again Commission
On February 13, 2025 President Trump signed an Executive Order to make America healthy again and for a commission to study it.
“To fully address the growing health crisis in America, we must re-direct our national focus, in the public and private sectors, toward understanding and drastically lowering chronic disease rates and ending childhood chronic disease. This includes fresh thinking on nutrition, physical activity, healthy lifestyles, over-reliance on medication and treatments, the effects of new technological habits, environmental impacts, and food and drug quality and safety. We must restore the integrity of the scientific process by protecting expert recommendations from inappropriate influence and increasing transparency regarding existing data. We must ensure our healthcare system promotes health rather than just managing disease.”
- all federally funded health research should empower Americans through transparency and open-source data, and should avoid or eliminate conflicts of interest that skew outcomes and perpetuate distrust
- Establish and compose the President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission
- members shall be the designated administration Secretaries and other members of the Administration invited to participate (where is the “all stake holders” mentioned by Kennedy who will be the chair?).
- Within 100 days of the date of this order (May 24), the Commission shall submit to the President, through the Chair and the Executive Director, the Make Our Children Healthy Again Assessment
Public Comment, Who needs that?
Publishing in the Federal Register on 03/03/2025 and available online at https://federalregister.govd/2025-03300, and on https://govinfo.gov.
The Department of Health and Human Services’ (the Department) Immediate Office of the Secretary is rescinding the policy on Public Participation in Rule Making (Richardson Waiver) and re-aligning the Department’s rule-making procedures with the Administrative Procedure Act.
Kennedy launches his “new era of radical transparency” by telling us no proposed rules necessary since we don’t need your comments on matters relating to agency management or personnel or to public property, loans, grants, benefits, or contracts,” are exempt from the notice and comment procedures of 5 U.S.C. 553, except as otherwise required by law. So does that include or not include the PFS?