(AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Dr. Mehmet Oz, nominated by President Donald Trump to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), is set to testify before the Senate Finance Committee on Friday morning.
A respected heart surgeon who became a popular TV personality, Oz now aims to oversee health insurance for roughly 150 million Americans enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, or Affordable Care Act coverage. At 64 years old, he is stepping into a role that involves managing more than $1 trillion in healthcare programs.
Republicans are expected to ask Oz about his plans for Medicare and Medicaid, particularly regarding the Trump administration’s focus on eliminating fraud within these programs.
Democrats, however, are likely to probe Oz on his tax filings, which they argue show he used a loophole to underpay taxes on Medicare, the program he would oversee. They are also expected to challenge him on potential cuts to health insurance coverage and his past comments on privatized Medicare, which were made during his tenure as host of The Dr. Oz Show.
The U.S. Office of Government Ethics has conducted an “extensive review” of Oz’s finances, according to spokesperson Christopher Krepich. He added that the office has determined any potential conflicts have been resolved, and Oz is in compliance with the law.
Oz’s net worth is estimated between $98 million and $332 million, with his most recent disclosure revealing substantial holdings in health insurance, pharmaceutical, and vitamin companies. Despite this, he has pledged to divest from companies that could present conflicts of interest if confirmed as CMS administrator.
In the role, Oz could wield considerable influence over health companies, as he will be involved in decisions regarding Medicare and Medicaid coverage, which impact a vast portion of the U.S. population.
Oz’s confirmation hearing comes as the Trump administration moves to finalize leadership appointments across health agencies. Recently, Senate committees advanced the nominations of Marty Makary to lead the FDA and Jay Bhattacharya for the NIH, while the nomination of Dave Weldon to head the CDC was abruptly withdrawn.
Oz’s nomination is part of a broader push by the administration and figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is focused on redesigning the nation’s food supply, rejecting vaccine mandates, and questioning established scientific research. Oz has supported Kennedy’s nomination to serve as Health Secretary, emphasizing the need for unbiased research on lifestyle choices.
This isn’t Oz’s first time testifying before Congress. In 2014, senators criticized him during a hearing about the weight loss products he promoted on his TV show.
