Dr. Oz to face Senate hearing over nomination to head Medicare, Medicaid agency
Former cardiac surgeon and TV host Dr. Mehmet Oz will face issues on the Senate Finance Committee on Friday His nomination Lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under President Trump.
After Friday’s hearing, the Republican-led Finance Committee will arrange a vote on whether to send the Wizard of Oz nomination to the entire Senate, which he will likely be approved given the Republican majority. If confirmed, OZ would be the executive who oversees the federal government spending nearly $1.5 trillion on Medicare and Medicaid. Two health insurance plans for seniors and poor Americans to make up More than one third Budget.
Medicare It accounts for approximately 65 million people through programs conducted directly by the federal government or with private insurance companies. Medicaid Approximately 85 million were supported through a program managed by the state government, which is mainly supervised by the CMS.
The final decision of Medicare and Medicaid sought by the Biden administration may abandon some major changes, such as An expensive suggestion In November, coverage will be expanded to drugs for weight loss, such as Ozes.
OZ is also expected to face the issue of his important authority in CMS administrators serving as private health insurance.
Monday, CMS Suggested Several measures have been taken to reverse Biden’s management’s expansion to insurance markets created by the Affordable Care Act, such as shortening open enrollment and excluding DACA Recipient From coverage. 2022, ounces explain The law “has wreak havoc on our health care system” and he “will not vote for it.”
The Wizard of Oz will be Trump’s fourth draft pick for health officials to face senators’ inquiries. After the White House, Dr. David Weldon’s hearing was suddenly canceled for a day. Withdrew his nomination Lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Most senators on the Senate Health Committee raised the president’s nominee, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, who runs the National Institutes of Health, and Dr. Marty Makary will lead on Thursday with the Food and Drug Administration.
A month ago, the Senate narrowly confirmed the Wizard of Oz, Health and Public Services by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
In a social media post last month, Oz Tabooed A “great dialogue” with the leading Republicans, he needs to win the nomination.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, the Republican chairman of the Senate Health Committee, sat down with OZ last month. Cassidy is one of four doctors in the Senate.
“The Medicare & Medicaid Services Center was chaired with President Trump’s nominee Dr. Mehmet Oz. Posted February 5.
The president’s choice for CMS wins criticism from some Senate Democrats who quote Oz’s past embrace “Pseudoscience is shocking” Record Anti-abortion statement And worry Conflict of interest.
ounce Have worked before As a professor of cardiac surgery at Columbia University and hosted the “Oz Dr. Show” until 2022, he stopped recording new TV shows and ran for the Senate seat in Pennsylvania.
He lost to Democrat John Fetterman in a Senate A narrow game Abortion is the top priority for voters.
As a Ethical Agreement Oz said he will resign in positions at several companies, including nutritional supplement company IHERB and drugmaker Housey Pharma. He also promised to withdraw from several healthcare companies, including insurance giant United Healthcare.
After the Senate match, Oz was advertised as iherb’s Global Consultant. He continues to promote iHerb supplements On social media After his nomination.
In the years after the Senate competition, he also continued to repost past excerpts from the show, just like editing Shared on September 4th From sponsored interviews about Medicare Advantage coverage. In 2020, the Wizard of Oz will be a little later propose The benefits of Medicare should be extended to all Americans.
Oz said in the clip that Medicare Advantage enrollment has increased by 70% since he started the show. It’s over Half of the elderly These plans were selected based on the latest federal data, rather than the “original Medicare” coverage.
“I want to push you. I don’t want to push you. But think about it because it’s been up 70% since I started the show, which means a lot to me.”
