Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was confirmed February 13, 2025, as the new Secretary of Health and Human Services, bringing with him a sweeping initiative dubbed “Make America Healthy Again,” or MAHA. It outlines a broad strategy to address rising health care costs, chronic disease, and preventive care. The same day RFK Jr. was confirmed, President Trump signed an executive order establishing the President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission, a panel aimed at reversing alarming trends in chronic disease and improving the overall health of Americans, particularly children.
This explainer is a look at the main points of Kennedy’s movement, including details from the executive order, and what these plans could mean for physicians and patients alike.
Emphasis on preventive care
Kennedy has long advocated for shifting the focus of health care from disease management to disease prevention. The MAHA plan promotes community-based initiatives to encourage healthy eating, regular exercise and routine screenings, aiming to reduce chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease.
Vaccine safety and personal choice
A key pillar of MAHA is what Kennedy calls “vaccine transparency.” Known for his outspoken views on vaccine safety, Kennedy has pledged to increase funding for vaccine research while also emphasizing informed consent and robust reporting systems for adverse events. Although most major medical organizations maintain that vaccines are safe and effective, MAHA’s stance has sparked debate within the medical community.
Environmental health and pollution reduction
Kennedy’s career in environmental law is reflected in the plan’s focus on pollution reduction. MAHA aims to collaborate with other federal agencies to tighten regulations on air and water contaminants linked to chronic diseases. The initiative’s goal is to lower the incidence of asthma, cancer and other illnesses that can be exacerbated by environmental factors.
Integrative and holistic medicine
Another component of the MAHA framework is the inclusion of integrative medicine. This approach combines conventional treatments with evidence-based complementary therapies, such as acupuncture or dietary supplements. MAHA’s proponents say it offers more holistic patient care, while critics caution that rigorous scientific scrutiny should guide policy decisions.
Health care cost transparency
Kennedy’s plan also addresses the economic burden on patients, stressing the need for clearer health care pricing and broader insurance coverage. MAHA proposes requiring hospitals and clinics to publicly list common procedure costs, with the aim of increasing competition and helping patients make more informed decisions.
Reducing prescription drug prices
MAHA advocates for stricter negotiation power between the federal government and pharmaceutical companies to lower prescription drug costs. Proposals include granting Medicare greater authority in drug price negotiations, which Kennedy argues will make life-saving medications more accessible.
Addressing the opioid crisis
Kennedy has repeatedly underscored the ongoing opioid epidemic, calling it a public health emergency that demands increased funding and updated guidelines. The MAHA plan seeks a multi-pronged approach: expanding access to addiction treatment, bolstering mental health services, and promoting non-opioid pain management strategies.
Support for rural health care
Rural and underserved communities are another focus. MAHA aims to increase the number of health care providers in these areas through student loan forgiveness programs and investment in telehealth. The plan also includes funding to upgrade medical facilities and technology in rural regions.
Outlook for physicians
Many in the medical community are watching to see how Kennedy’s plans will translate into policy. Supporters praise the emphasis on prevention, cost transparency and environmental health. Critics question the plan’s stance on vaccines and whether it could undermine public health efforts.
Physicians may encounter changes in reimbursement structures if preventive care and holistic treatments are prioritized. They may also face new reporting requirements related to vaccine administration and pricing disclosures.
For now, the White House and the Department of Health and Human Services say they will roll out details of MAHA in the coming months. As Kennedy settles into his new role, physicians and health care stakeholders across the country are poised to see whether “Make America Healthy Again” can deliver on its promises.
Trump’s executive order establishing the MAHA commission gives us the first insight. Here are the details:
MAHA executive order overview
By creating the Make America Healthy Again Commission, the White House aims to coordinate a government-wide response to what the order deems a critical public health crisis. The order underscores that the United States lags behind other developed nations in life expectancy, citing an average U.S. lifespan of 78.8 years compared with 82.6 years in comparable countries. It notes that six in 10 Americans have at least one chronic disease, while four in 10 have two or more. According to the order, these issues impose a “dire threat to the American people and our way of life,” consuming 90% of the nation’s annual health care expenditures.
The commission’s findings could lead to major shifts in how federal agencies address preventive health measures, research priorities and health insurance coverage.
For now, agencies await the commission’s first assessment, due within 100 days. Medical professionals and public health experts will be watching closely to see how these recommendations translate into tangible policy changes and whether they can reverse the nation’s chronic disease trends.
Physician payment: Will RFK Jr. take on the AMA?
In November 2024, news reports suggested Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s new secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), aims to overhaul how Medicare sets physician reimbursement rates. The Washington Post, Financial Times and STAT News have reported that Kennedy’s team is considering an attempt to shift the current system away from its reliance on the American Medical Association (AMA).
Under Medicare’s Resource-Based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS), the AMA’s Specialty Society Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) recommends relative value units (RVUs) that guide Medicare payments for medical services. Critics say the RUC setup favors specialized medicine over primary care, noting that high compensation for specialized procedures can draw doctors — and dollars — away from family medicine, pediatrics and internal medicine.
For now, details on RFK Jr.’s potential plan remain scarce, but any significant revisions to the Medicare reimbursement system — particularly those involving the AMA’s RUC — could reshape America’s medical landscape. You can read more about it here. Stay tuned.
Childhood health crisis
A significant portion of the order focuses on childhood chronic disease. It cites data showing an estimated 30 million children, or about 40.7%, have at least one health condition such as asthma or an autoimmune disorder. Autism spectrum disorder now affects 1 in 36 children in the United States, up sharply from rates observed in the 1980s.
“These trends harm us, our economy, and our security,” the order says, pointing to statistics that show 77% of young adults do not qualify for military service largely due to health issues.
Shifting national focus
To address what it calls a growing national health crisis, the order stresses the need for fresh thinking and a “re-direct” of the nation’s focus toward:
- Lowering chronic disease rates
- Ending childhood chronic disease
- Prioritizing prevention
- Reducing over-reliance on medications
- Promoting healthy lifestyles and better nutrition
- It also calls for restoring the integrity of scientific processes by eliminating what it refers to as “inappropriate influence” and increasing transparency around data.
Policy directives
Under the new policy, federal departments and agencies are instructed to:
- Promote transparency by sharing open-source data and avoiding conflicts of interest.
- Prioritize root-cause research on why Americans are getting sicker, with the National Institutes of Health taking a leading role.
- Support healthy, abundant, affordable food by collaborating with farmers.
- Expand treatment options and ensure flexibility in insurance coverage for preventive and lifestyle-based care.
- Establishing the Commission
- The executive order formally creates the President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission, chaired by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and overseen by the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy. Members include high-ranking officials from multiple federal agencies and departments, such as Agriculture, Education, Veterans Affairs, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Office of Management and Budget.
“To fully address the growing health crisis in America, we must re-direct our national focus … toward understanding and drastically lowering chronic disease rates,” the order states.
Immediate focus on childhood diseases
The MAHA commission’s initial mission is to tackle the childhood chronic disease crisis by:
- Studying the scope of chronic disease in children and identifying potential causes, including diet, environmental factors and medical treatments.
- Educating the public on the childhood chronic disease crisis with clear, transparent facts.
- Recommending policies to end the crisis, including best practices on nutrition and lifestyle.
Within 100 days, the Commission must submit a “Make Our Children Healthy Again Assessment,” which will:
- Compare U.S. childhood chronic disease rates with those of other nations.
- Assess threats posed by over-utilization of medications, environmental exposures and certain dietary factors.
- Report best practices for preventing childhood health issues, including nutrition and healthy lifestyles.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of existing federal programs related to children’s health.
- Increase transparency of data and ensure scientific rigor.
- Within 180 days, the Commission must provide a “Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy,” outlining more permanent structures and solutions to end childhood chronic disease.
Additional reporting and oversight
After submitting its strategy, the Commission may be instructed to reconvene under an updated mission. The Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Executive Director will determine further reports as needed, while ensuring all efforts comply with existing laws and available funding.
Focus on SSRI prescription drugs, and the controversy there
The executive order explicitly calls on the commission to evaluate the prescription rates of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, stimulants and weight-loss medications, along with the potential threats those prescriptions pose.
RFK Jr. has drawn scrutiny for his statements questioning the widespread prescription and safety profile of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), particularly among children and adolescents. He has argued that the medications can sometimes be overprescribed or misused, highlighting concerns over potential side effects such as increased suicidal ideation and other mental health complications.
Critics contend that Kennedy’s stance may oversimplify complex clinical decisions, noting that SSRIs are an essential tool in treating depression, anxiety and other psychiatric conditions. Mainstream medical experts generally point to a robust body of research supporting the efficacy of SSRIs when used appropriately, though they also acknowledge known risks—including a “black box” warning from the Food and Drug Administration regarding suicidal thoughts in younger patients. Some healthcare professionals caution that questioning SSRIs broadly could stigmatize individuals seeking legitimate pharmacological treatment for mental health issues.
As Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kennedy’s influence on federal health policies—particularly those related to mental health treatment—will likely face heightened scrutiny. The new executive order’s directive to evaluate SSRIs, antipsychotics and other psychoactive medications underscores the tension between Kennedy’s concerns and the standard of care embraced by much of the psychiatric and broader medical community. Observers say the Commission’s findings on prescription drug prevalence will be closely watched, as they could lead to new guidelines or funding priorities for research on the risks and benefits of SSRIs.
