Dr. Mehmet Oz, nominated by President Donald Trump to oversee government health insurance programs, has faced questions over his ties to the healthcare industry during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Friday.
Oz, who has never held public office, expressed uncertainty about opposing Medicaid cuts despite being asked by Republicans to commit to doing so. He stated that Medicaid is the number one expense item in most states, consuming 30% of those state budgets, and crowding out essential services like schools and public safety.
However, Oz also supported work requirements for Medicaid recipients and has expressed a desire to reduce costs through Medicare drug price negotiations. He claimed that President Trump wants to lower medication costs and said he plans to continue defending the negotiation program in court.
Oz’s nomination is likely to be confirmed due to Republican control of the Senate, which has largely supported his candidacy. The White House previously withdrew Trump’s nomination of Dave Weldon, a physician who criticized vaccines, following criticism from lawmakers.
As administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Oz would oversee programs that cover nearly 172 million people, including Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). He would also be responsible for implementing Medicare drug price negotiations aimed at lowering prescription medication costs.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/tvs-dr-oz-field-conflict-questions-trumps-medicare-nominee-2025-03-14