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Mehmet Oz Confirmed as Head of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
The Senate has officially confirmed Mehmet Oz as the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), positioning him at the forefront of Medicaid management during a time when funding for the program faces significant threats of reduction.
The confirmation vote concluded with a 53-45 outcome, reflecting a strict party-line division.
During his Senate Finance Committee hearing, Oz, a heart surgeon and former television personality, was subjected to rigorous questioning primarily from Democratic senators. His responses often leaned towards general statements rather than addressing specific inquiries, particularly regarding his stance on potential Republican-led cuts to Medicaid.
CMS is responsible for the welfare of approximately 68 million individuals using Medicare and 79 million reliant on Medicaid. Oz’s discussion echoed themes from the “Make America Healthy Again” initiative spearheaded by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He emphasized the necessity of overhauling existing measures to curb fraud, waste, and abuse in the system. “Let’s be aggressive in modernizing our tools to reduce fraud, waste, and abuse. This will stop unscrupulous people from stealing from vulnerable Americans and extend the life of the Medicare trust fund,” he stated during his hearing.
In this new role, Oz will also implement aspects of the Affordable Care Act, a piece of legislation he previously indicated he would have opposed had he been in Congress at the time.
Oz has faced scrutiny in the past for promoting dubious medical information during his tenure as a television host. Notably, he reached a $5.25 million settlement in 2018 concerning allegations of overstating the effectiveness of weight loss supplements.
Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.), who was once his opponent in the Pennsylvania Senate race, voted against Oz’s confirmation. However, he had shown an initial willingness to support him, stating on social media, “If Dr. Oz is about protecting and preserving Medicare and Medicaid, I’m voting for the dude.”
Some Republicans, including Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), expressed concerns regarding Oz’s prior positions on issues such as transgender health care for minors and abortion rights. After the hearing, Hawley noted that he hoped Oz had revised his opinions. He reported that Oz assured him he now “disavows his previous support for trans surgeries & drugs for minor children” and softened his stance on “state pro-life laws.”
Oz previously distinguished himself during his campaign by hosting a groundbreaking interview on his show with two transgender children, which GLAAD commended for its respectful and accurate handling.
This story was updated at 5:19 p.m.
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thehill.com