Senate Appoints Mehmet Oz as Head of Medicare and Medicaid
During a party-line vote, Democrats voiced their opposition to Oz, raising concerns about potential cuts to Medicaid, while Republicans commended his plans for reforming the program.
Dr. Mehmet Oz has been officially confirmed as the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The Senate endorsed the former attending physician at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University surgery professor with a 53–45 party-line vote.
Out of that total, $880 billion is anticipated to be sourced from the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, the entity that supervises Medicaid.
Related Stories
The president has asserted that he will not permit any cuts to the program, aside from those linked to waste, fraud, or abuse.
“When I posed a yes-or-no question regarding whether he would safeguard Medicaid, he evaded, he dodged, and failed to answer,” Wyden stated on March 25.
Oz did not explicitly state that he would oppose cuts in Medicaid spending. Instead, he emphasized methods to enhance Americans’ health, thus lowering healthcare expenditures.
“We have a generational opportunity to reform our healthcare system and assist individuals in maintaining their health for a longer duration,” Oz expressed in his opening statements on March 14.
Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) also opposed Oz’s confirmation.
“Dr. Oz declined to guarantee adherence to the law if President Trump were to direct him to engage in unlawful practices. Such reluctance to commit is disqualifying,” Hassan remarked on March 25.
Republicans supporting Oz’s nomination highlighted anticipated improvements to the Medicaid system.
“I will support his nomination, and I urge my colleagues across both parties to do the same.”
During the March 14 confirmation hearing, Republicans raised concerns about excessive spending, regulations on companies managing prescription drug pricing and insurance claims, and the prolonged waiting times for necessary medical procedure approvals.
Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) emphasized that Republicans aim to enhance Medicaid to ensure its continued availability for those in need.
“We are here to preserve Medicaid,” Marshall asserted on March 25. “We strive to fortify Medicaid for the most vulnerable populations.
“When expenditures on Medicaid hit a trillion dollars, having increased by 50 percent in five years, I believe there are opportunities to tackle the fraud, waste, and eligibility concerns.”
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) questioned some of the nominee’s perspectives but ultimately voted to endorse his appointment.
“I hope his views have aligned with President Trump’s!” Hawley wrote on March 19.
After graduating from Harvard University, Oz obtained his doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and a master’s in business administration from the Wharton School.
