Introduction to the Controversy
By MATTHEW PERRONE, AP Health Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — Calley Means has built a following within the “Make America Healthy Again” movement by railing against the failings of the U.S. health system, often pinning the blame on one issue: corruption.
Means, a top aide to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., was hired as a White House adviser in March. He has used that perch to attack the nation’s leading physician groups, federal agencies and government scientists, claiming they only protect their own interests in the nation’s $4.9 trillion-a-year industry.
In recent interviews, speeches and podcasts he has called the American Medical Association “a pharma lobbying group,” labeled the Food and Drug Administration “a sock puppet of industry,” and said federal health scientists have “overseen a record of utter failure.”
Conflict of Interest
Means, however, has his own financial stake in the sprawling health system. He’s the co-founder of an online platform, Truemed, that offers dietary supplements, herbal remedies and other wellness products. Some of the vendors featured on Truemed’s website are supporters of Kennedy’s MAHA movement, which downplays the benefits of prescription drugs, vaccines and other rigorously tested medical products.
This Friday, May 30, 2025, image shows part of the website of the company TrueMed, which was co-founded by Calley Means, a top aide to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (AP Photo)
Kennedy has pledged to run the Department of Health and Human Services with “radical transparency,” but Means has never had to publicly disclose his own financial details or where exactly they intersect with the policies he’s advancing.
Criticism and Concerns
“It reeks of hypocrisy,” said Dr. Reshma Ramachandran, a health researcher at Yale University. “In effect, he is representing another industry that is touting nonregulated products and using his platform within the government to financially benefit himself.”
In a written statement, Means said his government work has not dealt with matters affecting Truemed and has focused on issues like reforming nutrition programs and pressuring companies to phase out food dyes.
“Pursuing these large-scale MAHA goals to make America healthy has been the sole focus in my government work,” Means said.
Business Model and IRS Alert
Truemed helps users take tax-free money out of their health savings accounts, or HSAs, to spend on things that wouldn’t normally qualify as medical expenses, such as exercise equipment, meal delivery services and homeopathic remedies — mixtures of plants and minerals based on a centuries-old theory of medicine that’s not supported by modern science.
The business model caught the attention of the IRS last year, which issued an alert: “Beware of companies misrepresenting nutrition, wellness and general health expenses as medical care.”
Truemed co-founder and CEO, Justin Mares, said in a statement the company is “in full alignment” with IRS guidelines.
“Truemed enables patients to work with providers to use medical funds for root cause interventions like exercise and vitamin D to reverse disease under current law,” Mares said.
Ethics and Transparency
The full extent of Means’ potential conflicts — including his personal investments— are unclear because of his status as a special government employee.
Unlike presidential appointees and other senior officials, special government employees are temporary staffers who do not have to leave companies or sell investments that could be impacted by their work. Also, their financial disclosure forms are shielded from public release.
“It’s a big problem,” says Richard Painter, a former White House ethics lawyer under George W. Bush now at the University of Minnesota. Painter and other experts have raised alarms over a whirlwind of Trump administration actions to dismantle the government’s public integrity guardrails.
A Rising Star in the MAHA Movement
A rising star in the MAHA movement
Means’ rapid rise reflects the seeming contradictions within the MAHA movement itself, which urges followers to distrust both big corporations and the government agencies which regulate them.
Means rails against big pharma and food conglomerates, two industries that he says he spent years working for as a consultant in Washington.
Means has no medical training. A graduate of Harvard Business School, he previously ran a bridal gown startup with his wife. On Wednesday, he’s scheduled to be the keynote speaker at FDA’s annual science forum, according to a copy of the program shared with The Associated Press.
Promoting Personal Interests
He traces his passion for health care reform to the death of his mother from pancreatic cancer in 2021. Shortly thereafter, Means and his sister, Dr. Casey Means, took psychedelics together and had “a mind-blowing, life-changing experience,” which led them to co-author a wellness book, launch separate health startups and begin appearing on podcasts.
Casey Means was recently nominated to be surgeon general and has faced scrutiny over her qualifications, including an unfinished medical residency.
Asked about her nomination, President Donald Trump said: “Bobby thought she was fantastic,” adding that he did not know her.
The Business of Health Savings Accounts
Who benefits most from HSAs?
Means’ pitch for expanding HSAs echoes two decades of Republican talking points on the accounts, which were created in 2003 to encourage Americans in high-deductible plans to be judicious with their health dollars.
But HSAs have not brought down spending, economists say. They are disproportionately used by the wealthiest Americans, who have more income to fund them and a bigger incentive to lower their tax rate.
Americans who earn more than $1 million annually are the group most likely to make regular HSA contributions, according to an analysis by the nonprofit Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. More than half Americans with HSAs have balances less than $500.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding Calley Means and his involvement in both the government and private health industry raises significant concerns about conflicts of interest and the influence of personal financial gain on policy decisions. As the healthcare system continues to evolve, it is crucial that transparency and ethics are prioritized to ensure the public’s trust and the integrity of the system.
FAQs
- Q: What is the MAHA movement?
A: The "Make America Healthy Again" movement, led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., aims to reform the U.S. health system, often criticizing pharmaceutical companies, federal agencies, and traditional medical practices. - Q: What is Truemed?
A: Truemed is an online platform co-founded by Calley Means that offers dietary supplements, herbal remedies, and other wellness products, allowing users to spend their health savings accounts on these items. - Q: What are Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)?
A: HSAs are tax-free accounts created by Congress to help manage medical costs for individuals with high-deductible health plans, allowing them to save money for medical expenses. - Q: Why are HSAs controversial?
A: HSAs are disproportionately used by wealthy Americans, and their expansion could lead to less funding for programs like Medicaid, benefiting those who need it most.
