First Focus on Children submitted 15 questions for Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee to be asked during this week’s hearing on the secretary’s budget. The questions covered vaccines, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), health disparities, maternal and infant wellness, and many other children’s health issues.
A sampling of questions includes:
- The President has nominated Dr. Erica Schwartz to head the CDC. She has 24 years of experience in the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and has led disease surveillance and vaccination programs, even writing policy on pandemic influenza and other viral outbreaks. She’s also previously served in the first Trump Administration as deputy Surgeon General. If Dr. Schwartz recommends restoring the child immunization schedule, ACIP, and the CDC’s public campaign encouraging vaccination against changes made under your leadership – will you implement her recommendation? Would you consider firing Dr. Schwartz if she opposes your views on vaccines, like you did with Dr. Susan Monarez?
- According to a National Survey on Children’s Health conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, about 14.1 million children in the U.S. have special health care needs, representing 19.4% of all children. Medicaid is the largest payer for these children’s health services. How are you ensuring that children with special health care needs, including those with disabilities, continue to receive comprehensive coverage under Medicaid?