Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nominee for HHS secretary, seemed unfamiliar with the massive insurance program during Thursday’s hearing, mistakenly saying Medicare Part A mainly paid for primary care or physicians.

If approved, Kennedy will control a $1.7 trillion agency that oversees food and hospital inspections, hundreds of health clinics, vaccine recommendations and health insurance for roughly half the country.

Kennedy Jr.'s statements before the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday revealed a concerning lack of knowledge about the major health programs he'd oversee, should he be confirmed as HHS secretary.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. struggled Wednesday to answer questions about Medicare and Medicaid or to provide details about how he would work to drive down health care costs.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said “I’m not exactly sure” when asked by Sen. Bill Cassidy (R., La.,) about how care for people who are eligible for Medicare and Medicaid could be integrated.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was asked by Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) about Medicare and Medicaid during Kennedy's Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday. See their full exchange.

In a contentious confirmation hearing to be the nation’s top health official, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. struggled to answer questions about how he would reform Medicaid or Medicare, the government health care programs used by millions of disabled,