A group of senators is questioning prospective CMS administrator Mehmet Oz, MD, over his stance on Medicare Advantage and his financial ties to MA insurers, NBC News reported Dec. 10.
Led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, seven senate Democrats penned a letter to Dr. Oz on Dec. 10. The senators raised concerns that Dr. Oz would push to eliminate traditional Medicare if confirmed as CMS administrator.
In 2020, Dr. Oz published an op-ed arguing for expanding Medicare Advantage plans to everyone not enrolled in Medicaid. During his unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate in 2022, Dr. Oz backed expanding MA plans to "all Americans who want them."
In November, President-elect Donald Trump said he planned to nominate Dr. Oz, a former cardiothoracic surgeon and television personality, to run Medicare and Medicaid.
"We have questions about your lack of qualifications for this job: although you were a renowned heart surgeon, you have no management experience relevant to running these critical health care programs," the lawmakers wrote. "But we are equally concerned about your previous advocacy for Medicare privatization.
The lawmakers also raised concerns about Dr. Oz's investment in UnitedHealth Group, the largest MA insurer. According to financial disclosures published in 2022, Dr. Oz and his wife owned up to $550,000 in shares in the company.
In their letter to Dr. Oz, the senators asked if he would "commit to fully divesting any and all financial holdings related to the insurance industry" if confirmed as CMS administrator.
Dr. Oz must be confirmed by the Senate as CMS administrator, according to NBC News. Democrats would need at least four Republicans to vote against Dr. Oz's confirmation to block his confirmation, according to the outlet.