Dr Oz Confirmed by the Senate Along Party Lines to Lead CMS

The Senate has confirmed Mehmet Oz, MD, to lead CMS, an agency that oversees the health insurance for millions of Americans through Medicare and Medicaid.¹ The vote was strictly along party lines, 53-45.

President Donald J. Trump announced in November, shortly after winning his re-election, that he was nominating Oz, a television personality turned politician to run CMS.² During his hearing with the Senate Finance Committee regarding his nomination,³ Oz faced questions on potential cuts to Medicaid but turned the discussion to his vision of CMS leveraging technology to streamline the US health care system. He also emphasized the role of nutrition and lifestyle to improve the health of Americans, which aligns with the Make America Healthy Again, or MAHA, movement being driven by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.⁴

During the hearing, Sen Ron Wyden (D, Oregon) brought up Oz’s past proposal to transfer older adults to Medicare Advantage.⁵ However, Oz focused his answers on his hopes for instigating a culture shift at the agency and using technology to improve what he views as a broken system. He often steered the conversation to topics of bipartisan agreement, such as the high cost of care in America for outcomes that do not match comparable countries and the need to reform pharmacy benefit managers.³

During the confirmation hearings, Oz declined to answer definitively about opposing looming cuts to Medicaid but did say that Medicaid had to be made viable. A few weeks prior to Oz’s hearing, the House passed a budget resolution that included $880 billion in cuts from the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees health care spending, over the next decade.⁶

In recent weeks, Oz’s confirmation was in question with Sen Josh Hawley (R, Missouri) withholding support until Oz told him that he no longer supported transgender care for minors and would work to end funding for abortion providers.⁷ Oz’s investments had also been under scrutiny and he announced plans to sell his insurance, hospital, and pharma stocks.⁸ Among the stocks he owns are UnitedHealth Group, the largest private insurer, and HCA Healthcare, the largest hospital chain in the country.

References

1. Weber L. Oz confirmed to oversee health insurance for millions of Americans. The Washington Post. April 3, 2025. Accessed April 3, 2025. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/04/03/mehmet-oz-cms-medicaid-confirmation/

2. Jeremias S, McCormick B. Trump selects Dr Oz as CMS administration. AJMC®. November 19, 2024. Accessed April 3, 2025. https://www.ajmc.com/view/trump-selects-dr-oz-as-cms-administrator

3. Mattina C. Oz confirmation hearing probes vision for Medicaid but coalesces around well-being. AJMC. March 14, 2025. Accessed April 3, 2025. https://www.ajmc.com/view/oz-confirmation-hearing-probes-vision-for-medicaid-but-coalesces-around-well-being

4. Joszt L. A focus on MAHA, lasting changes to health care programs for Trump’s second term. AJMC. March 13, 2025. Accessed April 3, 2025. https://www.ajmc.com/view/a-focus-on-maha-lasting-changes-to-health-care-programs-for-trump-s-second-term

5. Grossi G. Dr Oz's Medicare proposals face scrutiny from Democrats. AJMC. December 11, 2024. Accessed April 3, 2025. https://www.ajmc.com/view/dr-oz-s-medicare-proposals-face-scrutiny-from-democrats

6. Klein H. House passes budget resolution cutting billions from Medicaid funding. AJMC. February 25, 2025. Accessed April 3, 2025. https://www.ajmc.com/view/house-passes-budget-resolution-cutting-billions-from-medicaid-funding

7. Abelson R. Dr. Oz ‘disavows’ support for transgender care, assuaging a senator’s concerns. The New York Times. April 1, 2025. Accessed April 3, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/01/health/dr-oz-transgender-care-abortion-josh-hawley-confirmation-cms.html

8. Bannow T. Dr. Oz plans to sell insurance, hospital, and pharma stocks, step down from supplement company if confirmed. February 19, 2025. Accessed April 3, 2025. https://www.statnews.com/2025/02/19/dr-oz-ethics-financial-disclosures-net-worth-trump-pick-cms-unitedhealth-hca-stock/