Dr. Oz Seeks to Become CMS Administrator

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) administrator oversees Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance plans at Healthcare.gov. Combined, those programs provide health insurance to about half of all Americans. The agency also has a budget of $1.2 trillion annually. Mehmet Oz, MD, was the host of the long-running daytime TV talk show The Dr. Oz Show. He ran as the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania in 2022 and lost to Senator John Fetterman (D-PA).

Senate Democrats on the Finance Committee have asked Oz for details of his position on privatizing Medicare by favoring the Medicare Advantage program and eliminating the traditional, government-run program. He co-authored an opinion piece in 2020 arguing that “Medicare Advantage for all” could provide universal coverage and “save our health-care system.” He is expected to be confirmed.

Dave Weldon, MD, was withdrawn as the nominee to head the Centers for Disease Control just minutes before his Senate confirmation hearing was set to begin. The Academy will continue to keep you posted about his replacement.