Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., questioned Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday on how he would confront challenges — such as workforce shortages — in rural communities and frontier areas.
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Kennedy responded that among the lawmakers he has spoken with, rural hospitals was one of the most unifying topics, and that President Donald Trump has asked him to address the crisis with AI and telemedicine.
"Our nation made a commitment over 100 years ago to put a hospital within 30 miles of every American. We generally succeeded in doing that. It's absolutely critical. It's life saving and rural hospitals are closing at an extraordinary rate right now. They not only provide important health care for the localities, but also their economic drivers for localities all over this country," Kennedy said in his confirmation hearing for health and human services secretary.
"President Trump is determined to end the hemorrhaging of rural hospitals, and he's asked me to do that through the use of AI, through telemedicine," he added.
Kennedy told the Senate Committee on Finance that the Cleveland Clinic "has developed an AI nurse that you cannot distinguish from a human being that has diagnosed as good as any doctor. And we can provide concierge care every American in this country, even though the remote parts of Wyoming, Montana, Alaska, etc."
For years, Kennedy, an environmental lawyer, has spread misinformation and falsehoods about vaccines and their safety, including the heavily debunked claim that they cause autism. Kennedy has also promoted drinking raw milk, which the Food and Drug Administration says can pose a "serious health risk." His views on these issues and others have prompted concern among health experts about his nomination.
Kennedy, the son of Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy, ran for president as an independent in 2024 before dropping out of the race and endorsing Trump.