Dr. Mehmet Oz says President Trump will “love and cherish” Medicare and Medicaid but thinks reforms are needed to eliminate waste and fraud and sustain the government insurance programs.
Dr. Oz, the nominee for administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, also believes Americans need to make healthier choices so the U.S. can reverse an obesity crisis that is reducing life expectancy and fueling billions of dollars in unneeded spending.
“We have a generational opportunity to fix our health care system and help people stay healthy for longer,” Dr. Oz told the Senate Finance Committee at his confirmation hearing. “That’s why President Trump wants to love and cherish Medicare and Medicaid.”
Dr. Oz testified on the importance of health entitlements and healthy habits as Mr. Trump tries to “Make America Healthy Again” through Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Yet Republicans are eyeing big cuts to government spending, sparking complaints from Democrats that Mr. Trump wants to slash Medicaid, the federal-state insurance program for low-income Americans.
Dr. Oz said Medicaid must be “viable at every level,” including proper payments for doctors and access for patients. However, Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon said his response amounted to a refusal to rule out cuts to the program.
CMS also oversees the popular Medicare program for seniors. The program covers roughly 70 million people in the U.S., a similar enrollment tally as Medicaid.
The agency also interacts with more than 20 million people who have selected private coverage through the Obamacare portals, which offer income-based subsidies to defray premiums.
Dr. Oz offered a measured view of Obamacare’s vast expansion of Medicaid, which allowed states to opt into enhanced federal funding and boost enrollment.
“For some states, it made sense. For some, it didn’t,” Dr. Oz said.
Other Democrats wanted assurance that Dr. Oz would refuse to carry out an order from Mr. Trump that violates the law.
“The president would never do that,” Dr. Oz said.
“That’s absurd. And it’s a disappointing answer,” Sen. Maggie Hassan, New Hampshire Democrat, said.
Dr. Oz, a 64-year-old surgeon, built his name and brand as a frequent guest on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and “The Dr. Oz Show” on television.
He developed a relationship with Mr. Trump during his TV years and the COVID-19 crisis. Also, he ran unsuccessfully for a U.S. Senate seat from Pennsylvania in 2022.
Mr. Trump named Dr. Oz to run CMS shortly after Election Day, though the nominee must be confirmed by the Senate.
Dr. Oz did not get any major pushback from Republicans who control the committee, in a good sign for his path to confirmation.
In testimony, Dr. Oz said he liked to be direct with his patients. Similarly, he warned senators that key programs are on an unsustainable path and that too many Americans are making poor lifestyle choices that drive health spending.
He said Americans are too fat, highlighting obesity rates that far exceed those of other developed nations, and said the problem is taking a toll on life expectancy.
Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, Idaho Republican, said Dr. Oz is an ideal nominee.
“You offer a wealth of firsthand experience and expertise, having studied, practiced and taught as an accomplished physician. In short, you understand how D.C. legalese looks on the ground and how policy plays out in practice,” Mr. Crapo said. “That is exactly the mindset we need in a CMS administrator.”
Yet Mr. Wyden said he is worried Dr. Oz will cave to cost-cutting agents in the Department of Government Efficiency and promote privately run Medicare Advantage plans, while leaving seniors in the traditional program to “wither on the vine.”
However, Dr. Oz said he does see some issues with the privately run plans.
The U.S. is “paying more for Medicare Advantage than we’re paying for regular Medicare,” he said, “so it’s upside down.”
