Scrutiny Faced Over Medicare Costs, Rural Health and COVID Vaccine Data in 2026 Healthcare Hearing

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified before the Senate Finance Committee today, facing questions about his vaccine policy changes. This hearing follows yesterday’s letter formally calling for Kennedy’s resignation, signed by more than 1,000 current or former HHS members.

Today’s hearing on “The President’s 2026 Health Care Agenda” featured a wide-ranging discussion of federal healthcare policy, with senators pressing Kennedy on issues ranging from staff reductions at HHS, Medicare costs and rural hospital funding to drug pricing and vaccine oversight.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faces bipartisan scrutiny over vaccine policies, Medicare costs and rural healthcare during a Senate hearing.

Republicans and Democrats each sought data, transparency and accountability, though their focuses and views ranged sharply. Republican senators focused on rising costs, legislative impacts on rural communities and COVID-19 vaccine data, while Democrats expressed concerns on equity, public health protections—particularly on vaccine access—and overall policy effectiveness.

The exchanges revealed a clear partisan divide on healthcare priorities.

Republicans' Questioning of Kennedy

Republican members pressed Kennedy on rising Medicare costs, the impact of federal legislation on rural health and drug pricing. Concerns on the “Big Beautiful Bill,” also surfaced.

“The so-called Beautiful Bill threw 15 million Americans off of healthcare, substantially raised premiums and is going to have a terrible impact on nursing homes, community health centers, rural hospitals all over America,” said North Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis. He further explained the impact on rural hospitals: “You’re cutting $150 billion for rural hospitals. You’re putting 50 billion back. That’s not an infusion. That’s a loss of 100 billion dollars.”

Drug pricing was another central focus. Republicans hammered Kennedy on the Inflation Reduction Act and Medicare negotiations with pharmaceutical companies. Tillis also raised concerns that the law disproportionately benefits Big Pharma, asking how the administration reconciles these policies with claims of reducing costs.

Kennedy defended the intent but noted process challenges.

“The negotiation framework was very well intentioned, but they were poorly structured,” he said, adding that some early negotiations inadvertently raised costs for Medicare.

Rising Medicare Part B and Part D premiums for 2026 also drew attention.

“Next year, seniors and families are facing higher healthcare costs across the board. Twenty-three million people on Medicare with a standalone Part D drug plan could see their premiums rise to $50 a month,” noted Nevada Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto.

Kennedy acknowledged the challenge but stressed HHS efforts to manage costs by stating, “We are already doing what we can to keep costs down for seniors” through program integrity initiatives.

Rural healthcare was also highlighted.

Senator Mike Crapo stressed legislation aimed at curbing PBM profits and increasing pricing transparency.

“Make certain that PBMs do not profit above what is their standard service fee, and that they have to disclose all their pricing.”

The importance of ensuring rural hospitals and pharmacies remain viable under federal health policy changes was also stressed.

Vaccine access and transparency drew significant questions as well.

Senators expressed concern over Kennedy’s handling of CDC leadership and COVID-19 guidance. Kennedy emphasized accessibility and risk-based decision-making.

“Anybody can get the booster at their local pharmacy today. Some medicines harm people,” Kennedy said. “Some of them have risks. Some of them have benefits that outweigh those risks for certain populations. And the same is true with vaccines.”

Republican Senators Tillis and Roger Marshall of Kansas specifically raised concerns over COVID-19 vaccine data, focusing on transparency, safety, risk–benefit assessments and the impact of HHS policies on vaccine research and access.

Kennedy acknowledged challenges in the surveillance system.

“We have more reports to VAERS, which is the only surveillance system that we have of injuries and deaths from that vaccine than all vaccines put together in history,” he said.

Republican senators stressed the need for evidence-based policies to maintain public trust.

Hammering From Democrats

Democratic Senator Ron Wyden, the committee’s top Democrat, sharply criticized Kennedy’s leadership throughout the start of the hearing.

“As the committee gathers today, the United States is in the midst of a healthcare calamity,” Wyden said. He cited chaos at the CDC, including the firing or resignation of nearly all senior leadership.

“These [CDC] changes were absolutely necessary adjustments to restore the agency to its role as the world's gold standard public health agency with the central mission of protecting Americans from infectious disease,” Kennedy responded. “America is home to 4.2% of the world's population, yet we had nearly 20% of the COVID deaths. We literally did worse than any country in the world, and the people at CDC who oversaw that process, who put masks on our children, who closed our schools, are the people who will be leaving.”

Kennedy also noted the expansion of vaccines for today’s children: “When I was a kid, I got three vaccines and I was fully compliant. Today's children have to get between 69 and 92 vaccines to be fully compliant.”

Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized Kennedy for restricting vaccine access.

“If you don't recommend, then the consequence of that in many states is that you can't walk into a pharmacy and get one. It means insurance companies don't have to cover the $200 or so cost,” she said.

Kennedy replied, “[The vaccine] is not recommended for healthy people. We're not going to recommend a product for which there's no clinical data for that indication, which is that what I should be doing.”

As a whole, the hearing showed a divide between both parties on healthcare issues, but both had their fair share of concerns. Secretary Kennedy defended his department’s actions but admitted there are challenges in carrying out policies and sharing data. Both sides stressed the need for clear regulations, quality information and accountability so Americans can have safe, affordable healthcare as the country moves toward 2026.