Trump selects Dr. Oz to head Medicare and Medicaid in US News
Donald Trump has selected TV host Dr. Oz to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Celebrity heart surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz gained fame working on Oprah Winfrey’s popular daytime television show before hosting his own long-standing series.
But how did he make the transition from TV personality to Donald Trump’s pick to oversee a large government agency?
The 64-year-old, who initially worked as a Professor of Surgery at Columbia University, became well-known during the 13 seasons of The Dr. Oz Show, which aired from 2009 to 2022.
Dr Oz during a TV appearance in 2012. Pic: AP
Despite his popularity, his advocacy of alternative medicine, faith healing, and various paranormal beliefs drew criticism from several medical publications and physicians.
Critics accused him of blurring the lines between medical advice and advertising, as well as failing to disclose the close relationships he had with the companies he endorsed.
Despite the controversies, Dr. Oz’s show was successful, and his net worth ranged from $100m (£79m) to $315m (£249m) in 2022, based on a federal financial disclosure he submitted that year.
Aside from his Emmy-winning TV show hosting, he is also a New York Times bestselling author, radio talk show host, founder of a national nonprofit that educates teens about healthy habits, and a self-proclaimed wellness ambassador.
He was also a regular commentator on Fox News and advocated for unproven COVID treatments, including hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial drug also supported by Trump for use against the disease.
Dr Oz holding his Emmy for outstanding talk show host in 2016. Pic: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP
During the COVID pandemic, he became a vocal critic of Joe Biden’s government, challenging its policies on social media.
Entering the realm of politics
Dr. Oz played a minor role in the initial Trump administration in 2016, when he was appointed to the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.
However, it was in 2022, after the conclusion of his show, when Dr. Oz truly ventured into politics by running as a Republican candidate for the US Senate in Pennsylvania.
The campaign heavily relied on his celebrity status, with his campaign logo closely resembling his TV show logo.
Mehmet Oz campaigning for Senate in 2022. Pic: AP
During his campaign events, he highlighted his “number one health show in the world,” shared occasional medical advice with supporters, and spent a considerable amount of time signing autographs and taking photos.
After a legal battle that reached the US Supreme Court, Dr. Oz narrowly won the primary over Dave McCormick by 951 votes, becoming the Republican nominee, but was defeated by Democrat John Fetterman in the general election.
His ties with Trump
Donald Trump stands behind Dr Oz during rally in 2022. Pic: Reuters
The surgeon has a lengthy personal relationship with the president-elect dating back to the early 2000s.
During an interview in his Senate campaign, he mentioned that they initially met in 2004 or 2005 when Dr. Oz asked Mr. Trump to host an event for his children’s charity at his golf course.
Mr. Trump agreed, and from then on, they occasionally saw each other at social gatherings before Dr. Oz interviewed him about his health during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Mr. Trump even appeared on his show, where he mentioned that his wife Melania was a fan of Dr. Oz.
They collaborated after Mr. Trump’s election victory, with Dr. Oz joining the President’s Council.
In 2022, Mr. Trump’s endorsement was crucial to Dr. Oz’s Senate campaign.
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“Women, especially, are attracted to Dr. Oz for his advice and guidance. I’ve seen this first-hand over the years. They know him, believe in him, and have confidence in him,” Mr. Trump said when he first endorsed him.
“Being in television for 18 years is like a poll,” added the billionaire, who also starred in 14 seasons of The Apprentice US.
“That means people like you.”
What will his responsibilities entail?
If confirmed by the Senate for the position, Dr. Oz will oversee Medicare, Medicaid, children’s health insurance, and the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as “Obamacare”.
These programs cover over 160 million individuals, from newborns to nursing home residents.
CMS also has a significant role in the nation’s $4.5 trillion healthcare sector, establishing payment rates for hospitals, physicians, labs, and other healthcare providers.
“Dr. Oz will play a key role in promoting disease prevention to achieve the best healthcare outcomes in the world for every healthcare dollar spent in our great nation,” stated the president-elect.
“He will also address waste and fraud within our country’s costliest government agency, which accounts for one-third of our nation’s healthcare expenditure and a quarter of our overall national budget.”
Dr. Oz expressed his “honour” at being nominated for the role and anticipated “serving my country to Make America Healthy Again”.
Like all of Mr. Trump’s selections, he will face questioning by Senate members before his appointment is voted on. Despite Republican control, some of the appointments could face opposition.
