2:27Casey Means, a wellness personality, on the left, along with journalist Megyn Kelly are seen at a confirmation hearing for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the position of Secretary of Health and Human Services, on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Jan. 29, 2025.Ben Curtis/AP
The powerful Senate HELP Committee is scheduling a hearing next Thursday with Casey Means, President Donald Trump's latest selection for surgeon general, also known as "America's Top Doc," several sources with knowledge of the situation told ABC News, though they warned the hearing is not yet set in stone. A Senate HELP Committee nod usually results in complete Senate endorsement.
Means is expecting a child and is anticipated to participate remotely, the sources mentioned.
She will confer later on Tuesday with aides from Republican HELP Committee members to discuss the timing of her hearing, two individuals informed about the discussion relayed to ABC News.
Dr. Casey Means, a wellness influencer, left, and journalist Megyn Kelly attend a confirmation hearing for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the Secretary of Health and Human Services post, at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 29, 2025.Ben Curtis/AP
A representative for the Department of Health and Human Services directed ABC News to the HELP Committee.
"Dr. Means' confirmation hearing has not been determined," a HELP Committee representative expressed in a statement. "We are still coordinating with Dr. Means and the administration to advance her nomination through the procedure and schedule a hearing."
The HELP Committee’s intentions were initially reported by Bloomberg.
Means, whom Trump nominated in May, would be among the final key health nominees to present before a Senate hearing. The White House rescinded the nomination of Trump's original surgeon general choice, former Fox News contributor Janette Nesheiwat.
A wellness entrepreneur, Means acquired a medical degree from Stanford, but she discontinued her residency program with only months left, a choice she has cited as attributable to her becoming "disenchanted with the practice and motivations of surgical care," according to her biography featured on her website.
Trump, after nominating Means in May, mentioned to reporters he selected her "because Bobby considered her wonderful," referencing HHS Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
"I am not acquainted with her. I heed the recommendation of Bobby," he appended.
In official documents submitted last month, Means vowed to step down from her role as an advisor for Levels Health, Inc., a wellness enterprise that features packages involving a wide assortment of blood tests, glucose-tracking and health coaching — memberships range from $288 to $1,499 annually.
She also committed to ending her work as an influencer promoting supplements and related wellness items, and to discontinue advertising her publication, "Good Energy," which was issued last year.
Means pledged to dispose of stock in several enterprises, including Altria Group, the parent firm of Marlboro cigarettes.
The surgeon general traditionally strives to inform Americans on methods to enhance their well-being and diminish chances of illness/injury and oversees the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. Recently, surgeons general frequently designate a primary focus to address during a segment of their tenure. The prior surgeon general, Vivek Murphy, worked to combat the loneliness crisis and social media hazards affecting children.
Certain earlier efforts by the surgeon general have greatly affected public health in prior decades, for example, the 1964 report that determined that smoking cigarettes is a significant source of lung cancer in both men and women.
An HHS spokesperson communicated to ABC News that the Altria Group stock was acquired by Means' husband before their marriage.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
