Dr. Mehmet Oz has advanced one step closer to leading the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) after the Senate Finance Committee approved his nomination on March 25.
The committee’s decision, made through a narrow 14–13 party-line vote, now sends Oz’s nomination to the full Senate for consideration.
President Donald Trump nominated Oz, a prominent physician and former television host, to oversee the federal agency responsible for managing health coverage payments for over 160 million Americans. The agency’s responsibilities include overseeing Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Health Insurance Marketplace, which collectively account for one-fifth of taxpayer dollars.
Republicans strongly supported Oz’s nomination, arguing that his leadership would bring much-needed reform to the healthcare system.
Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-ID) expressed his confidence in Oz’s ability to modernize federal healthcare programs, fix a flawed clinician payment system, and pursue pharmaceutical benefit manager reform. Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) supported those sentiments, stressing the need to protect Medicaid for the most vulnerable Americans while also addressing issues related to fraud, waste, and eligibility.
During his confirmation hearing on March 14, Oz remained vague about his stance on potential Medicaid spending cuts. His comments focused primarily on improving Americans’ health and making the healthcare system more efficient, rather than addressing concerns about the future of Medicaid funding. When pressed by Democrats on whether he would oppose reductions in Medicaid, Oz did not provide a direct answer.
Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) voiced his opposition to Oz’s nomination, citing the nominee’s failure to provide clear answers during the hearing. Wyden accused Oz of dodging questions about whether he would protect Medicaid from proposed Republican budget cuts. Democratic senators also raised concerns about Oz’s previous support for Medicare Advantage plans and potential privatization of Medicare.
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) criticized Oz’s stance, accusing him of wanting to privatize Medicare in a way that would harm 66 million Americans and waste billions of taxpayer dollars while benefiting large insurance companies. Warren framed the Trump administration’s efforts as a broader attempt to weaken essential social safety net programs.
Further scrutiny has emerged over Oz’s financial interests and potential conflicts of interest. Democrats and ethics experts have raised alarms about his substantial investments in health companies that receive payments from CMS. Oz has pledged to divest hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of stock in these companies if confirmed, including shares in UnitedHealth Group.
Oz’s lack of federal government experience and limited knowledge of health policy have also been points of concern among his critics. However, Republicans remain optimistic about his potential leadership at CMS, arguing that his medical background and focus on healthcare efficiency would bring positive changes to the agency.
No date has been set for the Senate’s final confirmation vote, but the ongoing debate is expected to be contentious, with Republicans and Democrats deeply divided over the future of Medicare and Medicaid. As the nomination moves forward, the spotlight remains on whether Oz will provide more clarity about his intentions for managing the nation’s critical healthcare programs.