A Broken Clock: RFK Jr. Gets Two Things Right on Health

President Donald Trump is back in the White House, but his cabinet is still incomplete.

Maybe that’s a good thing, especially with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the son of Bobby Kennedy and the nephew of President John F. Kennedy, as the commander-in-chief’s choice to lead HHS. Despite having a couple good ideas, Kennedy’s background and health platform as a whole should disqualify him. He is the wrong choice to lead the agency.

Kennedy’s nomination has ignited a firestorm due to his long history of opposing vaccines, his anti-fluoride stance, and his support of raw milk. Beyond the political sphere, Kennedy’s opponents come from all backgrounds, from Hollywood to hospitals. As The New York Times reported, iconic director Francis Ford Coppola, a polio survivor, has spoken out against Kennedy’s nomination. So has Mia Farrow, another polio survivor, who said on social media, “No RFK Jr. we [sic] cannot go back to this.”

In recent weeks, Kennedy has said he fully supports the polio vaccine, but Americans are right to be skeptical of any revelation spouted in the face of a tough nomination hearing.

Thousands of the nation’s caregivers are not buying Kennedy’s newfound embrace of a lifesaving inoculation. More than 15,000 doctors signed a letter earlier this month urging senators to vote against Kennedy’s confirmation. “This appointment is an affront to the principles of public health, the tireless dedication of medical professionals,” the letter said. “RFK Jr. has a well-documented history of spreading dangerous disinformation on vaccines and public health interventions, leaving vulnerable communities unprotected and placing millions of lives at risk. His appointment is a direct threat to the safety of our patients and the public at large.”

I agree. And while I strongly oppose Kennedy’s nomination, as the old adage says, even a broken clock is right twice a day. Although his views on vaccines and public health are indefensible, Kennedy is right on two things: the need for drug pricing reform and his embrace of lifestyle medicine. These are issues that transcend politics.

Reducing Drug Costs and Dependency

Kennedy has been a vocal critic of the outsized influence the pharmaceutical industry has on healthcare, and he has been an advocate for government intervention to reduce drug prices. He is not correct about big pharma’s vaccines, but he is right that Americans pay far more for drugs than patients in other countries without enjoying better outcomes.

Lowering drug costs is not just about saving money — it is about improving access. Insulin, a life-saving medication for diabetics, remains prohibitively expensive for millions, even with recent federal efforts to cap prices. If drug affordability is improved, the country will be able to bridge gaps in healthcare equity and reduce the number of Americans forced to choose between paying for prescriptions or paying their rent.

Policy solutions, such as empowering Medicare to negotiate more drug prices, promoting the use of biosimilars, and increasing transparency in pharmaceutical pricing could radically shift the landscape. If the next HHS secretary can convince President Trump to build upon the successes the Biden administration achieved toward drug pricing reform, that is a step in the right direction.

Shifting From Disease Management to Prevention Through Lifestyle Medicine

One of Kennedy’s more constructive ideas is the call to focus on chronic disease prevention rather than continuing to rely so heavily on reactive, disease-management models of care. Lifestyle medicine, which emphasizes healthy behaviors such as diet, exercise, and stress management, has shown remarkable promise in reversing or mitigating chronic diseases. Kennedy, focusing on nutritional deficiencies and poor dietary habits as the core culprits of many chronic diseases, advocates for this type of approach.

Imagine a healthcare system that prioritizes teaching patients how to prevent illness, instead of only treating its symptoms. The cost savings could be staggering. A 2021 case study estimated simple lifestyle changes could have saved one individual $92,000 in medical costs by eliminating the need for surgeries, prescriptions, and interventions to treat his pre-diabetes, obesity, and arthritis. Of course, if Americans make those healthy lifestyle choices or have those options available before chronic diseases develop, those raw dollars come on top of improved quality of life and longevity for millions of Americans.

Furthermore, integrating lifestyle medicine into routine care could significantly reduce health disparities. Low-income and marginalized populations often bear the brunt of preventable diseases. Public health campaigns promoting affordable, accessible strategies for prevention could reduce these disparities and improve outcomes across the board.

Lifestyle medicine intersects with mental health too. If we embrace this movement holistically and inclusively — ensuring access isn’t limited to those with disposable income — it could revolutionize healthcare.

Kennedy is not alone in this vision, and while his qualifications to lead this shift — and HHS in general — are dubious at best, he does have a platform. If confirmed, we could see a greater national focus on the prevention-over-treatment model.

Are These Rewards Worth the Risk?

So, Kennedy has a few good ideas. Is that worth the risk he presents? No.

I believe his presence would further undermine confidence in vaccines and in us, as healthcare providers. And, like the 15,000 doctors cited above, I believe his nomination is a threat to public health. Public health depends on science, data, and the careful communication of both. Kennedy’s track record suggests to me that his leadership could fuel misinformation and harm vulnerable populations. This is not a gamble the country can afford to take.

Kennedy’s nomination should be thrown out. But policymakers would be wise to explore the benefits of lifestyle medicine, and to continue efforts underway to rein in drug prices.