Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a Democratic senator from Wisconsin, noted that Means says she wants to root out conflicts of interest in federal agencies, while she has received money for promoting health companies and supplements.
Baldwin said Means has promoted a lab testing company that, before she began promoting their tests, agreed to pay $43 million to resolve allegations that it had billed for medically unnecessary lab tests and violated the False Claims Act. Means said she “was not familiar with that settlement” when she promoted the company’s products.
Baldwin said it “does not inspire confidence that you’re here to make Americans healthy when you accept money to promote a company who’s had to pay a settlement because of violating the False Claims Act.”
Baldwin also noted Means has promoted a range of supplements, including those that claim to promote longevity and detoxification. Baldwin said that, according to information provided to the committee, Means has made at least $325,000 from promoting supplements since the beginning of 2024.
Baldwin asked if she believes most Americans can afford the supplements and glucose monitoring products Means has promoted, such as a “full membership” for health products amounting to $1,500 a year. Baldwin asked if spending that much is one of her solutions to the nation’s health problems.
“I certainly don’t think every American needs to be wearing a glucose monitor,” Means said.
“My work on using entrepreneurship as a tool to bring and study new tools that can help us understand our blood sugar better, I am very proud of,” she added.