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 Trump Plans to Nominate Dr. Mehmet Oz to Oversee Medicare, Medicaid and Obamacare

The celebrity physician would run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a powerful agency in charge of programs that cover more than 150 million Americans.

Dr. Mehmet Oz ran for a Senate seat in Pennsylvania in 2022

Donald J. Trump Names Dr. Mehmet Oz to Lead Medicare and Medicaid Services

President-elect Donald J. Trump announced on Tuesday his intention to nominate Dr. Mehmet Oz, a well-known author and former television host, as the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This agency oversees health insurance programs that serve more than 150 million Americans.

Dr. Oz, who previously lost a Senate race in Pennsylvania to John Fetterman in 2022, was an unexpected choice for many observers. His selection aligns with Mr. Trump’s preference for appointing television personalities to federal leadership roles. Recent appointees for the Defense and Transportation Departments also have ties to Fox News and Fox Business.

CMS manages some of the nation's largest government health programs, including Medicaid and Medicare. These programs regulate health insurance and influence pricing for medical services provided by hospitals, doctors, and drug companies. Nearly a quarter of all federal spending is funneled through CMS, making it one of the government’s most significant agencies.

“CMS touches the lives of nearly every American family,” said Drew Altman, president of KFF, a health policy research organization. “Even minor decisions at CMS often have billion-dollar impacts and affect industries and critically ill patients alike.”

In his announcement, Mr. Trump emphasized Dr. Oz’s commitment to reforming the “illness industrial complex” alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr., another unconventional pick for the Department of Health and Human Services. Mr. Trump praised Dr. Oz’s influence through his award-winning TV show, which promoted healthy lifestyle choices to millions of Americans.

Dr. Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon and the son of Turkish immigrants, lacks prior experience in managing a large federal agency. His nomination has sparked criticism due to his history of endorsing unproven medical treatments, such as hydroxychloroquine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Critics, including Senator Patty Murray, have questioned his qualifications, calling his appointment “deeply disappointing.”

Dr. Oz has previously proposed significant health policy changes. In a 2020 Forbes column, he advocated for universal health coverage funded by a 20% payroll tax, replacing employer-sponsored insurance and the traditional Medicare program with private Medicare Advantage plans. This approach has drawn comparisons to the "Medicare for All" proposal by Kamala Harris during her 2019 presidential campaign.

As CMS administrator, Dr. Oz would also be responsible for Medicaid, a program serving over 70 million low-income and disabled Americans. Republican lawmakers have pushed for stricter eligibility rules and reduced federal funding for Medicaid, adding further complexity to the role.

Additionally, CMS oversees the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) insurance marketplaces. While Mr. Trump previously sought to repeal portions of the law, Dr. Oz has expressed support for its goal of expanding health coverage, albeit with critiques of its implementation.

Dr. Oz’s confirmation will likely be contentious as lawmakers scrutinize his qualifications and vision for the agency.