Dr. Oz sidesteps Medicaid cut queries during confirmation hearing

Dr. Mehmet Oz, the television personality nominated by President Trump to lead CMS, faced the Senate Finance Committee on 14 March 2025. During the hearing, Dr. Oz avoided directly addressing questions about potential Medicaid funding cuts proposed in the Republican budget plan, which aims to reduce $880 billion over the next decade.

Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA inquired about Dr. Oz's stance on these cuts, but he refrained from providing a clear position. Instead, he emphasized the importance of making Medicaid sustainable and expressed a desire to invest in the care of younger populations.

Dr. Oz also faced scrutiny regarding his financial practices. A memo from Democratic staffers on the Senate Finance Committee alleged that he may have underpaid Social Security and Medicare taxes between 2021 and 2023 by exploiting a tax exemption related to limited partnerships, potentially avoiding more than $300,000 in taxes.

Additionally, concerns were raised about Dr. Oz's financial ties to the healthcare industry. His financial disclosures reveal substantial investments in companies such as UnitedHealth Group, AbbVie, and Inception Fertility, which could present conflicts of interest should he were to oversee CMS. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) urged Dr. Oz to fully divest from these holdings to ensure impartiality in his potential role.

Despite these concerns, the hearing remained largely cordial. Dr. Oz expressed his commitment to combating healthcare fraud and enhancing public health through technological advancements, including artificial intelligence and telemedicine. He also criticized certain practices within Medicare Advantage plans, labeling some actions by private insurers as fraudulent, particularly highlighting "upcoding" practices where insurers document additional diagnoses to receive higher payouts.

The Senate Finance Committee will deliberate on Dr. Oz's nomination before advancing it to the full Senate for confirmation.​