During a hearing on Friday, senators questioned Dr. Mehmet Oz, the TV celebrity nominated to lead Medicare and Medicaid, about Republican-led proposals that could impact the health care coverage of nearly half of all Americans.
At his confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee, Dr. Oz engaged in friendly banter with senators, making jokes about basketball and college teams. He managed to evade tough questions from both sides, showcasing his on-air charm while addressing Democrats’ concerns about potential changes in health coverage for the elderly and children in need.
Many senators were preoccupied with the debate over the Republicans’ budget deal to avoid a government shutdown and came in and out of Dr. Oz’s hearing. Despite this, he is expected to easily pass Senate confirmation as the next administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, an agency with a $1.5 trillion budget.
Senator Elizabeth Warren questioned Dr. Oz about financial conflicts before the hearing but did not press the issue during the session. Instead, she focused on his stance on private Medicare plans potentially overcharging the government, an area where they both agreed on the need to address fraud and waste.
Throughout the hearing, Dr. Oz demonstrated a good understanding of various agency issues but often deferred to the need for further study on specific topics.
Several lawmakers, particularly Democrats, tried to get Dr. Oz to comment on the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce health care costs and agency budgets, but he skillfully avoided direct answers.
“Being healthy is our patriotic duty,” Dr. Oz told senators, emphasizing the cost of caring for individuals with lifestyle-related illnesses.
This aligns with the Make America Healthy Again movement led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, who would be Dr. Oz’s superior if confirmed.
Medicare Advantage and Privatization
Senator Ron Wyden initially raised concerns about Dr. Oz avoiding Social Security and Medicare taxes and his ties to a company selling Medicare Advantage plans. However, no follow-up questions were asked on these issues.