In keeping with my dive into old LiveJournal posts, I stumbled across one that talked about how, under George W. Bush, the U.S. healthcare system was becoming increasingly politicized. Looking at where we are now, I can’t help but feel like nearly every politician with an “R” after their name has kept that ball rolling.

 

I don’t have a definitive explanation for why this keeps happening, but the last three Republican administrations seem to follow a trend: inject politics into healthcare and sideline science.

 

Now, to be fair, Bush Jr.’s administration was relatively mild when it came to full-on fringe medical theories. But then came Trump, and the way his administration handled the pandemic was nothing short of a dumpster fire. We all remember the bizarre and completely unscientific suggestions that came out of that White House. The guy in charge tried to undermine Dr. Anthony Fauci—who, just as a side note, helped write the textbook that every med student uses to study internal medicine. Why? Because Fauci wouldn’t endorse whatever miracle cure Trump had picked out of a hat that week.

 

And now? Well, now we’ve got the sequel nobody asked for. Except this time, instead of even a few grownups in the room, we’ve got a clown car of conspiracy theorists and yes-men. My mother used to say some people would follow a leader right off the Brooklyn Bridge—and I think we’ve got a whole damn parade lining up.

 

Let’s talk about Health and Human Services under Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a man whose medical opinions are… generously speaking, unconventional. He’s joined by Dr. Oz, now head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), despite his legacy of peddling pseudoscience on daytime TV.

 

If you’re not familiar, CMS isn’t some side gig—it’s one of the largest insurance providers in the country. And Medicare doesn’t just serve the elderly and disabled; it sets the gold standard for how other insurers bill and reimburse. Their system of Diagnosis-Related Groups (DRGs) determines how long a patient should stay in the hospital, what treatments are reimbursed, and how much a hospital gets paid. For example, if Medicare decides the average hospital stay for pneumonia is four days, they won’t pay for anything beyond that. Most private insurers follow suit. That’s why this stuff matters.

 

Now that I’ve waded into my insurance background (sorry, old habits), let’s break down some of RFK Jr.’s greatest hits in anti-science policymaking:

 

1. Skepticism of Psychiatric Medications

Kennedy has voiced concerns about the widespread use of psychiatric drugs—like antidepressants and ADHD meds—questioning their efficacy and risk for addiction.

 

Honestly? I get the concern, to a degree. As a provider, I was always cautious about prescribing psych meds, especially when used as a one-size-fits-all solution. Before prescribing anything, I always tried to consult with a psychiatrist or review the patient’s records with one. Med management isn’t about guessing; it’s about precision.

 

That said, RFK Jr.’s skepticism sounds more like a lack of understanding than a thoughtful critique. ADHD medications, for example, are stimulants, yes—but when prescribed correctly and monitored by a specialist, they are incredibly effective. This isn’t witchcraft. It’s neuroscience.

 

2. “Healing Farms” for Addiction

He’s proposed “wellness farms” in rural areas for people struggling with addiction, focusing on nature-based recovery. NPR reports that experts are questioning the evidence behind this.

 

I’m skeptical, too. Most existing treatment programs don’t have a 100% success rate, and this idea seems even more out there. I’ve seen cold-turkey withdrawals firsthand—and let me tell you, it’s brutal. That’s why I’m a firm believer in medication-assisted treatment (MAT). It’s evidence-based, humane, and effective.

 

Also, who’s running these farms? What are they doing with these patients? It’s giving “out of sight, out of mind” vibes—warehousing people so the rest of society doesn’t have to see them struggle. That’s not treatment. That’s disappearance.

 

3. Autism, Vaccines, and Environmental Toxins

Kennedy is still pushing the thoroughly debunked theory that environmental toxins—or vaccines—cause autism. He’s even launched investigations into links between things like mold, medications, and ultrasounds and autism.

 

Let me be blunt: these ideas have no scientific merit. The infamous MMR-autism “link” has been refuted time and again. The original study was retracted. No credible replication has ever occurred. And yet, RFK Jr. still believes this nonsense.

 

To make matters worse, he gutted the vaccine advisory committee and replaced members with conspiracy theorists. Just wait—diseases we’ve nearly eradicated are going to make a comeback. Hope your tetanus shot is up to date.

 

4. Mental Health Funding Under Threat

There’s talk of consolidating the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) into a larger entity and possibly cutting its funding.

 

This is terrifying. Mental health is not a monolith—it includes a wide range of subspecialties that need individualized attention and resources. Lumping them all together under one umbrella doesn’t streamline care; it forces programs to fight over limited funds. And let’s not forget: SAMHSA helps people who don’t have access to proper insurance get mental health care. These changes will only deepen the cracks in an already broken system.

 

5. The Wellness and Prevention Focus

Kennedy wants to shift healthcare toward prevention and wellness. Sounds good in theory, but let’s be honest—based on his other ideas, this has red flags all over it.

 

Yes, prevention is important. But how can we take that seriously from someone who doubts vaccines, undermines psychiatry, and fires anyone who won’t parrot his beliefs? If you actually care about preventative care, you don’t toss out science to make room for woo.

 

I’m not saying the current healthcare system is perfect—it’s not. But RFK Jr.’s ideas aren’t reform. They’re regression. If we want meaningful change, we need to stop treating science like it’s optional.

 

And yes, I know it’s still an unpopular opinion in some circles, but universal healthcare remains a better use of our money than feeding profits into bloated private insurance companies. Good luck staying healthy over the next four years. If Bobby Kennedy could see this, I think he’d be spinning in his grave like a damn turbine.

 

Healthy or not, please continue to be the kind of person your dog and your mom hope you are.