Dr. Mehmet Oz has been appointed as the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) by President-elect Donald Trump. This federal agency provides health insurance to more than a hundred million US citizens and is responsible for managing programs that account for roughly a quarter of the nation’s budget.
This appointment may be due to Oz’s long-standing relationship with Trump and his celebrity status as a heart surgeon and talk show host.
Dr. Mehmet Oz is well-known for his daytime television show, “The Dr. Oz Show,” which aired for 13 seasons and won several Daytime Emmy Awards. He first became popular by regularly appearing on Oprah Winfrey’s show, where he was recognized as a trustworthy expert in health and wellness. Dr. Oz trained as a heart surgeon and has a medical license in Pennsylvania, but he hasn’t performed surgeries for about six years now.
In an official statement released on Tuesday, Trump expressed his belief that the 64-year-old physician is capable of improving America’s healthcare system. He stated that Dr. Oz would work to eliminate waste and fraud in the government’s “most expensive” agency, as he plans to reduce government spending, especially on Medicaid. Trump also mentioned that his nominee will prioritize encouraging disease prevention, aiming to make healthcare more effective and efficient.
However, despite his background in medicine, Dr. Mehmet Oz’s previous statements regarding healthcare coverage, including a 2009 assertion that “it should be mandatory that everybody in America have healthcare coverage,” reveal a more progressive stance not typically aligned with traditional Republican ideologies.
Additionally, Oz faced criticism for promoting “unapproved” medical treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as hydroxychloroquine, which drew praise from some supporters and backlash from health professionals.
As he prepares to take on the role, Dr. Mehmet Oz’s responsibilities will include overseeing Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act.
With CMS overseeing a $1.1 trillion budget and employing over 6,000 staff, as per The Associated Press, Oz’s leadership could significantly influence healthcare delivery for seniors and low-income individuals in the U.S. His prior experience on the Presidential Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition further connects him to the administration’s focus on health initiatives.