President-elect Donald Trump’s nominations for top healthcare leadership positions has the sector wondering about the direction of U.S. healthcare policy.

With Robert F. Kennedy Jr. nominated to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Dr. Mehmet Oz selected to oversee Medicare and Medicaid as CMS Administrator, these appointments are certainly a departure from traditional picks for these roles.

RFK Jr., widely known for his views on vaccines and public health, has outlined a vision for reform for agencies like the CDC, FDA, and others with a goal to restore “gold-standard, evidence-based science” to these institutions. However, RFK Jr.’s stances on core HHS responsibilities, including Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act, are mostly unknown. With HHS managing over $1 trillion annually in healthcare payments, policymakers are closely watching how RFK Jr. might impact these programs.

President Trump’s other unconventional choice for his healthcare team is Dr. Mehmet Oz, who as CMS Administrator, would oversee Medicare, Medicaid, and ACA plans. With his integrative medicine approach, the focus hopefully will be on chronic disease and how to manage the rising cost issues, while still meeting the needs of the patient. With a background as a cardiothoracic surgeon, TV personality, and former Senate candidate, Dr. Oz brings a mix of medical expertise and public notoriety. He’s praised for his potential to reduce waste and fraud in CMS while promoting disease prevention, yet his views around dietary supplements and COVID-19 treatments have raised questions about his suitability for the role.

Both RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz will face challenging Senate confirmation processes given the uncertainty surrounding their nominations. Their unorthodox credentials suggest a potential shake-up in healthcare policy even among their currently unknown stances on key U.S. healthcare policies.

It seems many stakeholders are adopting a wait-and-see approach, bracing for what could be a transformative era in healthcare policy under these unconventional appointments.