In testimony to the Senate Finance Committee, Mr. Kennedy seemed to confuse the two government programs that cover more than 150 million Americans.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. struggled to answer questions from Sen. Bill Cassidy (R., La.,) about Medicare and Medicaid. When asked about how care for people who are eligible for both federal health programs could be integrated,

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.