Click in for more news from The Hill{beacon} Health Care Health Care   The Big Story Trump taps RFK Jr to lead Health and Human Services President-elect Trump has picked environmental lawyer and vaccine-skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  © Morry Gash, Associated Press Trump announced the decision in a post to the social media platform X and Truth Social.    “I am thrilled to announce Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS),” he wrote. “For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health.”  “Mr. Kennedy will restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again!” Trump added.    HHS is the nation’s top federal health agency with a budget of almost $2 trillion, which it uses to administer programs like Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.  The department oversees 13 subagencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration, which are responsible for responding to public health threats like COVID-19 and bird flu and for approving new drugs including vaccines.    Kennedy has said that all of the divisions need reform and plans to replace many staff members throughout the agency.    There is still a chance that the agency could be headed by someone other than RFK Jr. since the position requires Senate confirmation. Trump though has demanded that Senate Republicans concede their role in vetting his nominees and allow recess appointments.    If Kennedy does end up heading HHS, he will also bring a skepticism of pharmaceutical companies and the federal agencies overseeing them.    The move roiled Democrats and public health leaders, who worry Kennedy could meddle with key government agencies, amplify vaccine hesitancy and direct agency funding to favor his preferred views.    “Donald Trump’s selection of a notorious anti-vaxxer to lead HHS could not be more dangerous—this is cause for deep concern for every American. There is no telling how far a fringe conspiracy theorist like RFK Jr. could set back America in terms of public health, reproductive rights, research and innovation, and so much else,” said Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.).   “Confirming RFK Jr. as HHS Secretary would be nothing short of a disaster for the health of millions of families. I urge my Senate Republican colleagues to join me in forcefully condemning and opposing this catastrophic nomination.”   Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter, we’re Nathaniel Weixel, Joseph Choi and Alejandra O'Connell-Domenech — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.  Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.  Essential Reads How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond:  Drug overdoses set to drop to lowest levels since 2020: CDC U.S. drug overdose deaths are on pace to fall to the lowest levels since 2020, according to new provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a hopeful milestone amid efforts to stem the epidemic.   Full Story   Measles cases rise by 20 percent worldwide: WHO Measles cases have skyrocketed in recent years after a COVID-19 pandemic-era drop in vaccination against the virus.  Full Story   Greene: ‘Pretty sure’ Trump’s AG will prosecute COVID ‘crimes’ Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said she was “pretty sure” the next attorney general would prosecute people for “crimes against humanity” committed during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Preparing for the next pandemic is actually recognizing that the last pandemic resulted in crimes against humanity,” Greene said during a hearing on preparing for future pandemics. “People that perpetuated and continue to perpetuate these crimes …  Full Story   In Other News Branch out with a different read: RFK Jr. faces hurdles in push against fluoride in waterRobert F. Kennedy Jr.’s goal of removing fluoride from the water supply faces challenges regardless of what role he plays on health care in the new Trump administration.  Full Story   Around the Nation Local and state headlines on health care: Why Democrats’ abortion messaging failed to resonate in Texas, despite unpopular bans (The Texas Tribune)  Whooping cough cases surge in Bay Area heading into winter (San Francisco Chronicle)  Louisiana ranks No. 1 and 2 for some sexually transmitted infections, new CDC data show (The New Orleans Advocate)  What We're Reading Health news we've flagged from other outlets: Premature births in the U.S. remain at an all-time high, the March of Dimes reports (NBC)  Kennedy’s FDA wish list: raw milk, stem cells, heavy metals (The New York Times)  How the CDC could change under the next Trump administration (NPR)  What Others are Reading  Most read stories on The Hill right now: McCarthy says Gaetz won’t get confirmed: ‘Everyone knows that’ Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) predicted Wednesday that former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), President-elect Trump’s pick for attorney general, … Read more Musk’s bold plans for ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ face roadblocks Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are set to take the reins of the brand new “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) under President-elect … Read more  You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! Check out The Hill's Health Care page for the latest coverage. Like this newsletter? Take a moment to view our other topical products here 📩If you believe this has been sent to you in error, please safely unsubscribe. Close Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Health Care newsletter Subscribe