Dr. Oz Faces Tough Questions on Medicaid Cuts in Senate Hearing \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Dr. Mehmet Oz, Trump’s nominee for CMS Administrator, faced Senate questioning on his vision for Medicare and Medicaid. While promising to fight health care fraud and expand AI and telemedicine, he dodged questions on potential Medicaid cuts. The hearing comes as the Trump administration finalizes leadership for top health agencies, advancing nominees for FDA, NIH, and CDC.
Dr. Mehmet Oz’s CMS Nomination – Quick Looks
- Dr. Mehmet Oz, Trump’s nominee for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), faced Senate questioning on Friday.
- He vowed to fight health care fraud and leverage AI and telemedicine for better efficiency.
- Avoided directly answering whether he would oppose Medicaid cuts.
- Stressed that staying healthy is a “patriotic duty”, advocating for nutrition education.
- Supported Medicaid work requirements, but opposed excessive paperwork barriers.
- Proposed rural hospital partnerships to address closures.
- Called prior authorization requirements a “pox on the system”, arguing they drive up costs.
- The Trump administration continues filling top health leadership, advancing nominees for FDA and NIH while withdrawing a CDC pick.
Deep Look
Dr. Mehmet Oz, the former heart surgeon and television personality, appeared before the Senate Finance Committee on Friday to defend his nomination as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The role would give him oversight of health insurance programs covering over 150 million Americans, including Medicare, Medicaid, and Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans.
During the two-and-a-half-hour hearing, Oz promised to crack down on fraud, modernize health care with technology, and encourage preventive care. However, he sidestepped pointed questions about Medicaid cuts, an issue that has loomed large as Republicans weigh reducing funding for the government health program for low-income Americans.
Oz painted his nomination as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to reshape American health care, urging a focus on preventive medicine, cost efficiency, and fraud prevention. He repeatedly emphasized the need to keep Americans healthier for longer, stating,
“We don’t have to order people to eat healthy—we have to make it easier for them to be healthy.”
Oz’s Health Care Vision: AI, Telemedicine, and Rural Access
A key theme of Oz’s testimony was the expansion of technology in health care, including artificial intelligence and telemedicine, which he believes can improve access and efficiency. He argued that modernizing CMS policies could reduce costs and help patients get faster, better care, particularly in rural areas where hospitals are closing at alarming rates.
When pressed about rural hospital closures, Oz suggested that struggling facilities should partner with larger institutions in nearby cities rather than operate as standalone hospitals.
“We have to revisit how we deliver rural care in America. We can’t depend on 100-bed hospitals that do one delivery a day to provide state-of-the-art care.”
Medicaid Cuts: A Question Oz Wouldn’t Answer
While Republican senators largely praised Oz, Democrats pressed him on Medicaid funding, asking whether he would oppose cuts that could lead to hospital closures and reduced care for low-income Americans.
Oz avoided direct answers, instead arguing that Medicaid should be improved to serve core recipients better, including children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities.
“We have to make some important decisions to improve the quality of care.”
When asked if he would support Medicaid cuts that could lead to more rural hospital closures, he responded,
“I don’t want those hospitals to close—unless we have a better option.”
He also endorsed Medicaid work requirements, but suggested that paperwork shouldn’t be used as a barrier to enrollment.
Cracking Down on Health Care Fraud
Oz spent much of the hearing focusing on his plan to tackle waste and fraud in Medicare and Medicaid, a major Republican priority. He pointed to private insurers billing Medicare for exaggerated diagnoses that never lead to treatment as a key area for reform.
He also took aim at prior authorization requirements, a bureaucratic process that forces doctors to get insurer approval before performing certain procedures. He called it a “pox on the system” that drives up administrative costs and delays care.
“This system is broken. We have to stop making it so hard for patients to get the care they need.”
Dr. Oz’s TV Past and Business Ventures
Oz’s background as a TV doctor and entrepreneur also became a point of discussion. The 64-year-old cardiothoracic surgeon gained fame as the host of The Dr. Oz Show, where he promoted everything from dietary supplements to private health insurance plans. The show, which ran for 13 seasons, made him a household name—and a fortune.
His past endorsements of unproven health products have led to widespread criticism, and some senators raised concerns about his commercial ties to the supplement and insurance industries.
Oz defended his business background, arguing that his experience in health care innovation makes him uniquely qualified to modernize CMS policies.
Trump’s Health Leadership Team Takes Shape
Oz’s nomination is part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to reshape federal health agencies.
- Marty Makary was advanced to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
- Jay Bhattacharya is set to head the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
- Dave Weldon’s nomination to lead the CDC was suddenly withdrawn.
These picks have aligned with the “Make America Healthy Again” movement, championed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. This initiative promotes redesigning the food supply, rejecting vaccine mandates, and questioning mainstream medical research.
What’s Next for Oz?
The Republican-controlled Senate Finance Committee will now vote on whether to advance Oz’s nomination to a full Senate vote. Given the GOP’s unified support for Trump’s health nominees, Oz is expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
However, his vague stance on Medicaid cuts and his history in commercialized health care could make him a target for future scrutiny, especially as Democrats push back on Republican health policies.
If confirmed, Oz will hold significant power over the U.S. health care system, with the authority to decide which treatments and services are covered by Medicare and Medicaid.
For now, the debate over his nomination continues, with supporters praising his vision and critics warning of potential health care rollbacks under his leadership.
Dr. Oz Faces Tough Dr. Oz Faces Tough Dr. Oz Faces Tough
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