Washington (AP) – Calley Means Aims to “make America healthy again” by addressing the shortcomings of the US healthcare system, a critical factor being corruption.
This highlights the role of his key advisor, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who began advising the White House in March. He leveraged this position to Critique the major medical associations, federal agencies, and government scientists, accusing them of prioritizing industry ties over public health, which costs a staggering $4.9 trillion annually.
In various interviews, speeches, and podcasts, he denounced the American Medical Association as a “pharmalobby group” and referred to the Food and Drug Administration as “industrial puppets,” claiming federal health scientists are responsible for a “record of complete failure.”
However, Means has his own financial interests tied to the extensive healthcare network. He co-founded Trueemed, an online platform that provides dietary supplements, herbal remedies, and other wellness products. Some vendors showcased on the Truemed website support Kennedy’s Maha Movement, which tends to overlook the benefits of prescription drugs and vaccines, among other rigorously tested medical solutions.
This Friday, May 30, 2025, the image shows part of the Trueemed website. This was co-founded by Calley Means.
Kennedy has vowed to run the Department of Health and Human Services with “radical transparency,” yet this does not mandate public disclosure of his financial interests.
“It’s hypocrisy,” remarked Dr. Reshma Ramachandran, a health researcher at Yale University. “In truth, he represents yet another industry that promotes unregulated products while using his government platform for financial gain.”
In a written statement, he claimed that his governmental efforts have not addressed issues impacting Truemed, focusing instead on reforming nutrition programs and urging businesses to eliminate food dyes.
“Chasing these grand Maha ambitions to improve American health was the singular focus of my governmental work,” Means stated.
Truemed allows users to withdraw tax-free funds from their medical savings accounts or HSAs to spend on items that typically wouldn’t qualify, such as exercise equipment, meal delivery services, and homeopathic remedies.
Last year, this business model caught the IRS’s attention. An alert was issued: “Be cautious of businesses misrepresenting nutrition, wellness, and general health costs as medical.”
Justin Mares, co-founder and CEO of Truemed, asserted that the company is “completely in line” with IRS guidelines.
“Trueemed enables patients to collaborate with their healthcare providers to utilize medical funds for foundational interventions like exercise and vitamin D to reverse illnesses under current law,” Mares explained.
The extent of potential conflicts, including personal investments, is a concern for special civil servants.
Unlike presidential appointees and other high-ranking officials, special government officials are temporary staff and are not required to divest from companies that could be impacted by their work or liquidate their investments. Furthermore, their financial disclosure documents are shielded from public scrutiny.
“That’s a significant issue,” says Richard Painter, a former White House ethics lawyer under George W. Bush and currently at the University of Minnesota. Painter and other experts highlight concerns around a dismantling of the government’s integrity safeguards reminiscent of the Trump administration.
Yet, part-time government officials are bound by the same law that prohibits all federal employees from addressing matters that could directly enrich them. If such scenarios arise, they are obligated to either recuse themselves or face criminal consequences.
I regularly share my insights with HHS, including reevaluating the use of medications for depression, weight loss, diabetes, and other conditions. Recently, he has been promoting a New Government Report that indicates a desire to reduce prescription drugs that support exercise, dietary changes, and other alternatives.
“If we reduce dependency on the healthcare system and minimize reliance on pharmaceuticals, it necessitates a mental and cultural dialogue about how we treat our children’s bodies,” he stated in a recent podcast appearance.
Experts note that ethical guidelines are designed not merely to prevent financial improprieties but to highlight conflicts that could erode public trust in government.
“If I were running an ethics office at HHS, I’d be disinclined to allow anyone to interview or give talks on government matters that could impact their financial interests,” Painter added.
The rising star of the Maha movement
“Means’s swift ascent reflects the inherent contradictions within the Maha movement, which advocates for skepticism towards both major corporations and the regulatory government agencies overseeing them.
It encompasses critiques targeting two sectors he claims to have consulted in Washington: large pharmaceutical companies and food conglomerates.
With no medical training, Means is a Harvard Business School graduate who previously operated a bridal gown startup alongside his wife. On Wednesday, he is scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the FDA’s annual science forum, according to a program shared with the Associated Press.
His push for healthcare reform stems from the loss of his mother to pancreatic cancer in 2021. Following this, Means and his sister, Dr. Casey Means, experimented with psychedelics, which they describe as “incredible, life-altering experiences.” This spurred them to co-author a wellness book, launch another health startup, and begin podcast appearances.
Casey Means was recently appointed as surgeon general and has faced intense scrutiny regarding her qualifications, including an incomplete medical residency.
When questioned about her appointment, President Donald Trump remarked that “Bobby thought highly of her,” though he admitted he was unfamiliar with her work.
Meanwhile, her brother has intensified his rhetoric around the Maha agenda, asserting that Kennedy “has a spiritual mission to reform our malfunctioning system.”
While he champions the administration’s accomplishments, Means frequently inserts references to his own brand or that of his business partners.
When asked for health advice on a sports podcast, he replied in April: “Check out our book ‘Good Energy’.”
He also endorses blood tests provided by Function Health, which offers a subscription for $500 a year. This company was co-founded by Dr. Mark Hyman, a friend of Kennedy and an investor in Truemed. Casey Means is also an investor in Dr. Hyman’s company.
“If you’re unwell, there’s likely a nutritional deficiency, and we can target the biomarkers through diet and supplements,” Calley Means advised.
Similar to dietary supplements, marketing claims regarding clinical tests offered by Hyman are not FDA-approved. The agency has long cautioned about the reliability of such tests and has attempted to initiate regulations under President Joe Biden.
Experts assert that Maha entrepreneurs like Hyman are following a familiar strategy in the wellness sector: selling tests to identify health issues and marketing products to address them.
“We’re endorsing products and services founded on shaky grounds at the expense of those that have undergone rigorous FDA approval,” stated Dr. Peter Luley, a former FDA employee now leading the Center for Public Interest Science.
Many products sold via Truemed, including sweat tents, cold plunge tanks, and light therapy lamps, do not qualify as medical expenses under HSA regulations, which are tax-advantaged accounts established by Congress for managing medical costs.
The IRS typically stipulates that HSA purchases must be for items that diagnose, treat, alleviate, or prevent illnesses.
With Truemed, users can obtain a “letter of medical necessity” from their doctor certifying that the specific product offers medical benefits. Similar to other telehealth services, direct patient communication is rarely established. According to the company’s site, doctors conduct reviews of “a straightforward research solution.”
Industry representatives advise consumers to proceed with caution.
“We need to ensure that we can back up our spending choices during audits,” cautioned Kevin McKetchney, director of the HSA Council at the American Bankers Association. “Companies imply that they will facilitate this process for you.
There are approximately $147 billion in HSA accounts across the U.S., presenting a lucrative opportunity for companies like Trueemed, which charge fees for transactions executed through their platform.
Means envisions even greater potential by routing federal funding from government programs to more HSAs.
“Our main goal is to shift healthcare expenses into flexible spending,” he stated during a podcast with fitness celebrity Gillian Michaels last year. “I aim to direct $4.5 trillion from Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs into flexible accounts.”
Who benefits most from HSAs?
The promotion of expanding HSAs originated in 2003, echoing two decades of Republican messaging advocating for fiscal prudence concerning health dollars.
However, economists argue that HSAs are not effectively curbing spending. They are disproportionately utilized by affluent Americans who have the financial means to contribute and possess stronger incentives for tax savings.
Data from a budget and policy analysis indicates that wealthier individuals, earning over $1 million annually, are the most likely to contribute regularly to HSAs. Over half of Americans with HSAs hold a balance of less than $500.
Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” proposes further expansion of HSA expenditures, including tax-free eligibility for gym memberships and additional fitness costs. This provision alone is projected to cost the government $10 billion in lost revenue.
“These initiatives are essentially tax credits masquerading as health policy that overwhelmingly favor high-income individuals,” asserted Gideon Lukens, a former White House budget officer who served under both the Obama and Trump administrations.
According to the group’s website, the push for HSA expansion is listed as a coalition goal of Maha entrepreneurs and Trueemed partners.
In a statement, the alliance emphasized a broad range of issues, such as “healthcare incentives and patient choice,” without lobbying for specific legislation.
Overall, the HSA expansion proposed in Trump’s bill is expected to cost the federal government $180 billion over the next decade. As HSAs broaden to encompass more diverse products and services, Lukens warns that less federal funding will be available for health insurance expansion through programs like Medicaid.
“Our nation has limited federal resources; the question is whether we want to allocate them to health and wellness products that may offer limited utility for the wealthy,” Lukens expressed.
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Source: apnews.com