President-elect Donald Trump has nominated television personality and heart surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz to serve as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), a federal agency overseeing health insurance programs that cover more than 150 million Americans.
The nomination comes after Dr. Oz’s unsuccessful bid for a Pennsylvania Senate seat in 2022, where he lost to Democratic Senator John Fetterman.
In announcing the nomination, Trump said Dr, Oz would work closely with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, to address what he termed the “illness industrial complex” and reduce waste and fraud within the healthcare system.
Dr. Oz, who holds a medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania and has experience in cardiothoracic surgery, gained prominence through appearances on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” before hosting his own television series.
The CMS administrator position oversees Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance marketplaces.
Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren expressed concerns about the nomination, stating, “Running Medicare and Medicaid for over 100 million Americans isn’t like hosting a daytime talk show. Dr. Oz is another rich guy who doesn’t care if your health care costs go up or an insurance company denies you coverage.”
Dr. Oz has previously voiced support for expanding Medicare Advantage plans to all Americans not enrolled in Medicaid. However, his nomination has sparked debate due to his history of promoting alternative medicines and unproven treatments, including hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19.
The nomination requires Senate confirmation, and Dr. Oz has previously appeared before a Senate panel regarding his television show’s comments about weight loss supplements.
If confirmed, Oz would need to address several pressing healthcare challenges, including the expiration of enhanced Obamacare premium subsidies at the end of 2025 and ongoing concerns about fraud in Medicare Advantage plans.
