Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s confirmation hearing for HHS secretary could take place the last week of January, Senate Finance Chair Mike Crapo told Peter, as Trump's nominee continues to make his case with senators this week.

Why it matters: Kennedy faces controversy over his long history of vaccine criticism, and a hearing could also feature fireworks over past, sometimes misleading statements on alternative cures, nutrition and fluoride in drinking water.

What they're saying: Crapo suggested his panel would hold one of two confirmation hearings on Kennedy at the end of this month, which would mean a floor vote would likely slip to February.

• "I don't know that we'll get it ready until the last week [of January] because of the paperwork," Crapo said, noting that he wants to move soon but that the panel is "in the process of getting all the [nomination] paperwork set up."

Driving the news: Kennedy met yesterday with Senate HELP Committee Chair Bill Cassidy, a physician who is a closely watched vote. The HELP panel will also get to question Kennedy, but only Finance will vote on whether to advance the nomination.

• Cassidy didn't directly answer whether Kennedy assuaged his concerns on the vaccine front, telling Peter: "We just had a good conversation."
• He also demurred when asked how he would vote, saying that "for nominees throughout my Senate career, it's been one step at a time."
• Cassidy told Fox News in an interview over the weekend that Kennedy is "wrong" on vaccines, but that he agreed with some of his other priorities like concerns with ultra-processed foods.

The other side: Democrats are highlighting vaccine concerns, pointing to a measles outbreak in Samoa in 2019 following a visit from Kennedy, during which he met with anti-vaccine figures.

• Democratic Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, a physician who helped respond to Samoa's outbreak, has been urging senators to sink Kennedy's nomination.

Between the lines: Senate Democrats have not been raising alarms at the same level, however, and there is some speculation that Kennedy could even pick up a few Democratic votes, given some lawmakers' interest in issues like healthful foods.

• HELP Committee Ranking Member Bernie Sanders met with Kennedy yesterday. His office didn't provide a readout or statement afterward.
• Some senators are more openly enthusiastic about Kennedy. Sen. Roger Marshall said vaccines did not come up at all in a meeting he described as "tremendous," and that "nutritious foods" and "food additives" could be early areas of focus for Kennedy.

Sen. John Cornyn said today that he would support the nomination after a meeting with Kennedy that included questions about vaccines.

• "He told me he is not anti-vaccine, he is pro vaccine safety, which strikes me as a rational position to take," Cornyn told reporters after the meeting.
• "I asked him … 'What about some of the normal childhood vaccines?' and he said, 'Well, these are well-tested and time-tested for safety,'" Cornyn added.
• Kennedy has in the past falsely linked vaccines to autism.

Republicans' reconciliation strategy envisions giving committee chairs the latitude to find payfors to help cover the cost of a sweeping tax cut package, according to House Budget Chair Jodey Arrington.

Why it matters: Any potential package could have big implications for Medicaid and other federal health programs, Victoria reports.

What they're saying: Arrington said after yesterday's Republican Study Committee meeting that on Medicaid policy there are "specifics that are out there for consideration," but "that's going to be driven by the chairman of the policy committees."

• "It's not top down, it's committee up.… That's going to be driven by the committees, and they have the list [of policy ideas] that we put in our 10-year balanced budget."
• "They are going to come up with the maximum achievable savings, and then that's going to be socialized with our conference and the various caucuses, and we'll come to a number that we all agree on."

On Tuesday, Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie told Axios that he was "sure Medicaid reform is going to be a part of" reconciliation, potentially through per capita allotments.

Reality check: Although leadership always says it wants to empower the committee chairs, most big policy decisions still end up being made by the top brass.

Catch up quick: President-elect Trump met with senators yesterday and discussed reconciliation but didn't weigh in on whether lawmakers should do one or two packages, Axios' Stef Kight reported last night.

• While Trump did pitch the idea of one "beautiful bill" again, he also heard about the merits of a two-package strategy from senators.

1. Drug prices: List prices for the 25 top Medicare Part D drugs not selected for price negotiations have nearly doubled since they first entered the market, AARP's Public Policy Institute says in a new report.
2. Hospital M&A: 45 of the 72 hospital and health system mergers or acquisitions in 2024 involved a divestiture or a sell-off of assets, according to a Kaufman Hall analysis.
3. Lab tests: A Biden administration plan to have FDA police lab-developed tests could be swiftly dialed back by the incoming Trump administration, Axios' Maya Goldman reports.