Dr. Mehmet Oz, widely recognized as Dr. Oz, recently appeared before U.S. senators at Capitol Hill, requesting confirmation as the new head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). During his opening statement to the Senate Finance Committee, Oz expressed his commitment to ensuring CMS provides access to excellent care for vulnerable Americans, including the young, disabled, and elderly.
Typically, previous CMS administrators have joined with substantial state and federal government health policy experience. However, Oz, chosen by former President Trump, is relatively new to the political domain. He previously served as a heart surgeon at Columbia University and hosted a successful daytime talk show for 13 seasons. Oz had also made an unsuccessful attempt to run for Senate in 2022.
CMS is responsible for providing health insurance to approximately 160 million Americans through Medicare, Medicaid, and the Obamacare exchanges, operating with a $1.5 trillion budget, which is almost twice that of the Department of Defense. Recently, Democratic senators questioned Oz on his history of promoting unverified treatments like green coffee beans and raspberry ketones for weight loss. Throughout the hearing, Oz avoided directly addressing Republican plans to cut Medicaid, although Trump has publicly stated he would not reduce Medicaid. Experts have noted that a recent budget resolution passed by House Republicans will necessitate significant Medicaid cuts over the next decade.
Oz has faced criticism for not disclosing financial interests in the products he has promoted and for having potential conflicts of interest with private Medicare Advantage plans. As the CMS head, he would be responsible for regulating these plans. Oz has pledged to sell his healthcare and pharmaceutical stocks if confirmed.
Despite the intense questions, Oz provided tailored and well-prepared responses during the hearing, which proceeded far less contentiously than a recent hearing with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the Department of Health and Human Services position. The committee has yet to vote on Oz’s nomination, but it is anticipated that he will be confirmed by the Republican-majority Senate.
Tom Scully, a former CMS administrator under President George W. Bush, discussed Oz’s nomination with a health policy news organization. Scully emphasized the importance of political skills in managing CMS and highlighted Oz’s significant public recognition as an asset. Scully expressed confidence that Oz could learn the necessary health policy details and position himself strategically within the Trump administration. He advised Oz to build relationships with key political figures to navigate the challenges of CMS leadership successfully.
