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Dr. Mehmet Oz Nominated as CMS Administrator by Trump
Dr. Mehmet Oz, known for his television presence and a previous candidacy for a U.S. Senate seat, has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as the administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
CMS plays a significant role in providing health coverage to around 50% of Americans through programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Affordable Care Act marketplace via Healthcare.gov.
These health initiatives account for approximately $1.6 trillion in government expenditure, representing close to 25% of the total federal budget. Trump’s announcement of Oz as CMS administrator follows his earlier intention to nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), who is notably recognized for his controversial views on vaccines.
Dr. Oz gained fame as the host of “The Dr. Oz Show,” which aired for over 12 years. In the 2022 midterm elections, he was the Republican candidate for a Senate seat from Pennsylvania, which he lost to Democratic candidate Sen. John Fetterman.
In a statement regarding Oz’s nomination, Trump declared, “America is facing a Healthcare Crisis, and there may be no Physician more qualified and capable than Dr. Oz to Make America Healthy Again.” He continued, praising Oz’s credentials as an “eminent Physician, Heart Surgeon, Inventor, and World-Class Communicator,” stressing that Oz would collaborate with Kennedy to address systemic health issues.
Trump underscored the need for reform, stating, “Our broken Healthcare System harms everyday Americans, and crushes our Country’s budget.” He expressed confidence that Oz’s leadership could help prioritize disease prevention, aiming for optimal health outcomes for the financial resources allocated to healthcare. Trump also emphasized the importance of addressing waste and fraud within CMS, which manages substantial portions of national healthcare spending.
Chiquita Brooks-LaSure currently holds the position of CMS administrator, and further developments are anticipated as the transition progresses.
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