Dr. Oz sidesteps senators’ questions about Medicaid cuts
WASHINGTON - During his Senate confirmation hearing on Friday, Dr. Mehmet Oz vowed to fight health care fraud and push to make Americans healthier if he becomes the next lead of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
However, the former heart surgeon and TV personality failed to directly answer questions regarding whether he would oppose cuts to Medicaid.
Oz for CMS administrator
Dig deeper:
President Donald Trump tapped Oz to be the next CMS administrator for his second term in office.
Oz would wield significant power over most health companies operating in the U.S. because he can make decisions about who and what are covered by Medicare and Medicaid.
By the numbers:
Oz would oversee health insurance for about 150 million Americans who enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid or Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage.
Oz laid out his plans for the agency, including potential reforms he is considering, during a confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Committee on Finance.
What happened during the hearing?
Dr. Mehmet Oz, nominee to be administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is seen ahead of his hearing in front of the Senate Finance Committee, in Washington, D.C., United States, on March 14, 2025. (Photo by Nathan Posner/Anadol
What they're saying:
When asked directly by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore, whether he would oppose cuts to Medicaid, Oz did not give a straight-forward answer.
"Will you agree, this morning, since you want to cherish Medicaid, to oppose any cuts to the Medicaid program? And I want a yes or no, because we all agree we need to do more to fight fraud and such matters. But what I want to know, yes or no, is since you cherish Medicaid, will you agree to oppose cuts in the Medicaid program?" Wyden asked.
"I want to make sure that the patients today and in the future have resources to protect them if they get ill. The way you protect Medicaid is by making sure that it's viable at every level, which includes having enough practitioners to afford the services, paying them enough to do what you request of them, and making sure that patients are able to actually let medical…" Oz answered before he was cut off by Wyden.
"Let the record show that I asked the witness, who said he cherishes this program, will you oppose cuts? And he would not answer a yes or no question," Wyden continued.
Oz also said during the hearing that technology like artificial intelligence and telemedicine could be used to make care more efficient and expand its reach.
He faced over two and a half hours of questioning before the Republican-controlled Senate Finance Committee, which will vote later on whether to forward his nomination to the full Senate for consideration.
What's next:
If nominated, he will need to garner at least 50 votes in the full Senate to be confirmed.
What to know about Oz
The backstory:
The 64-year-old was a respected heart surgeon who turned into a popular TV pitchman.
Oz has hawked everything from supplements to private health insurance plans on his former TV series, "The Dr. Oz Show," which ran for 13 seasons and helped him amass a fortune.
Oz’s net worth is between $98 million and $332 million, according to an analysis of the disclosure, which lists asset values in ranges but does not give precise dollar figures.
His most recent disclosure shows he also holds millions of dollars worth of shares in health insurance, fertility, pharmaceutical and vitamin companies.
Oz has promised to divest from dozens of companies that would pose conflicts for him as the CMS administrator.
RELATED: What to know about Dr. Oz, the TV host tapped to run Medicare and Medicaid
The Source: Information for this article was taken from The Associated Press, FOX News and previous reporting by LiveNOW from FOX. This story was reported from Los Angeles.