Dr. Oz, a former television show host and heart surgeon, has been appointed by Donald Trump to lead the agency that oversees Medicare and Medicaid.
Oz stopped performing surgeries in 2018, but according to the state’s online database, his physician license remains active in Pennsylvania through the end of this year.
Trump said in a statement, “Dr. Oz will be a leader in incentivizing Disease Prevention, so we get the best results in the World for every dollar we spend on Healthcare in our Great Country. He will also cut waste and fraud within our Country’s most expensive Government Agency, which is a third of our Nation’s Healthcare spend, and a quarter of our entire National Budget.”
In 2022, Oz ran a failed bid for a Senate seat representing Pennsylvania. He narrowly beat Dave McCormick to secure the Republican Party’s nomination. He had Trump’s support but lost the race to Senator John Fetterman.
He has expressed support for RFK Jr. on Instagram in recent days, saying, “Americans need better research on healthy lifestyle choices from unbiased scientists, and @robertfkennedyjr can help as HHS secretary.” He would report to RFK Jr. in this role.
If confirmed by the Senate, Dr. Oz would oversee Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act, which Trump has vowed to reform during his second term as President of the United States.
In Trump’s statement, he said, ““I have known Dr. Oz for many years, and I am confident he will fight to ensure everyone in America receives the best possible Healthcare, so our Country can be Great and Healthy Again!” Trump said in a statement on Tuesday. “Dr. Oz will be a leader in incentivizing Disease Prevention, so we get the best results in the World for every dollar we spend on Healthcare in our Great Country.”
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid has a $1.1 trillion budget. It sets Medicare payment rates for hospitals, doctors, labs, and other service providers. It also sets standards that govern how health care providers operate.
