Trump Nominates Dr. Mehmet Oz to Lead Massive Medicare and Medicaid Agency

On Tuesday, November 19th, President-elect Donald Trump announced his nomination of Dr. Mehmet Oz, a renowned heart surgeon and television personality, to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS is a crucial federal agency that oversees healthcare programs impacting nearly half of all Americans. These programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges, account for approximately $1.6 trillion in spending, or nearly 25% of the federal budget.

Trump strongly supported Oz in a statement released, describing him as “an eminent physician, heart surgeon, inventor, and world-class communicator.” He emphasized that Oz’s leadership would focus on disease prevention and cutting waste within CMS, a Department of Health and Human Services division. “Dr. Oz will be a leader in incentivizing disease prevention so we get the best results in the world for every dollar we spend on healthcare,” Trump said. “He will also cut waste and fraud within our country’s most expensive government agency.”

Oz, best known for his long-running daytime TV show The Dr. Oz Show, has also held roles advising on health policy, including a seat on the Presidential Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition. His career took a political turn in 2022 when he ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania. Despite this setback, Trump’s nomination emphasizes Oz’s influence in healthcare, having long advocated for a shift toward preventive care and healthcare reform.

However, Oz’s appointment has sparked significant debate. Critics argue that his celebrity status and controversial views on health, particularly his promotion of unproven treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic, undermine his qualifications to oversee such a vital agency. New Jersey Representative Frank Pallone Jr., the ranking Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, condemned the choice, stating, “Trump is not concerned about Americans’ health care…By nominating both RFK, Jr. and Dr. Oz, Trump is doubling down on leaders that peddle in dangerous misinformation that endangers public health.”

Supporters, including Senator Bill Cassidy, a fellow physician, have praised the appointment. Cassidy highlighted the opportunity to implement conservative healthcare reforms, particularly in Medicare, stating that it has been over a decade since a doctor-led CMS.

If confirmed, Oz will oversee CMS’s significant role in healthcare policy and spending, including the future of Medicare Advantage and the Affordable Care Act exchanges.