“The 64-year-old will manage health insurance programs for roughly half the country, with oversight of Medicare, Medicaid or Affordable Care Act coverage.”
Why this is important: Dr. Oz will now oversee health insurance programs covering roughly half of all Americans through Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act. His confirmation has sparked significant concerns among healthcare advocates who fear his leadership could accelerate privatization of Medicare and lead to cuts in essential services for millions of vulnerable Americans, including seniors, children, and people with disabilities.
Despite Dr. Oz’s longstanding criticism of socialized healthcare and advocation of healthcare privatization, he has not yet indicated whether he would oppose proposed cuts to the government-funded program. Instead, Dr. Oz has outlined a vision centered on promoting healthier lifestyles, integrating artificial intelligence and telehealth into the system, and rethinking rural healthcare delivery.
During his confirmation hearing last month, Dr. Oz expressed support for work requirements for Medicaid recipients while cautioning against excessive paperwork that could block enrollment. He acknowledged longstanding issues with the program, noting that "doctors dislike Medicaid for its relatively low payments and some don't want to take those patients." Dr. Oz highlighted particular concerns about Medicaid expansion, stating that when "eligibility was expanded without improving resources for doctors, that made care options even thinner for the program's core patients, which include children, pregnant women and people with disabilities." Despite taking this stance in the face of his confirmation, during this hearing, Dr. Oz reportedly signaled support for further privatization of Medicare through Medicare Advantage plans, which critics note already cost taxpayers nearly $100 billion annually in excess costs compared to traditional Medicare.
Critics, including Robert Weissman, co-president of Public Citizen, have raised the alarm about Dr. Oz's qualifications and potential conflicts of interest. Weissman warned that Dr. Oz is currently poised to enact the new Presidential administration’s agenda of stripping crucial healthcare services through Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act, which could result in hundreds of millions of Americans losing their eligibility. Another critic of Dr. Oz, Lee Saunders, president of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), stated that "Dr. Mehmet Oz has been shilling pseudoscience to line his own pockets. He can't be trusted to defend Medicare and Medicaid from billionaires who want to dismantle and privatize the foundation of affordable healthcare in this country."
While Dr. Oz has faced criticism for promoting certain supplements and alternative treatments, he has consistently encouraged Americans to get vaccinated. He has also committed to continuing the Medicare drug price negotiation program established under the Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act, telling senators, "It's the law. I'm going to defend it and use it."
As it stands, CMS is expected to lose approximately 300 staffers under the current administration and its push to reduce federal overspending. Such losses would include those who worked on minority health initiatives and cost reduction strategies. While CMS has been spared from the deeper cuts implemented at other health agencies like the FDA, CDC, and NIH, healthcare advocates warn that these personnel reductions, combined with Dr. Oz's leadership, could mark the beginning of a fundamental restructuring of America's healthcare safety net. With rising consumer prices and newly announced tariffs threatening to spark a global trade war, the timing of potential healthcare cuts could not be more precarious for millions of Americans already struggling with economic uncertainty and increased costs of living. --- Hikmat N. Al-Chami
