Dr. Mehmet Oz, the TV doctor of celebrities, is expected to have a tense confirmation hearing on Friday, in which democratic senators are planning to wonder how he would oversee Medicare and Medicaid now that the Republicans and Trump government weigh important changes that make millions of Americans.
One of the possible plans considered by Republican legislators and President Trump is serious reductions in the health insurance policy for people with a low income and a greater shift to private plans for older Americans.
Dr. OZ, 64, a cardiothoracic surgeon who became famous for his successful show during the day, seems ready to guarantee confirmation by the entire Senate.
His confirmation hearing is one of the last of the Trump nominees whose agencies under the jurisdiction of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fall, the health secretary of the nation. It immediately follows Mr. Trump's decision on Thursday to appoint Dr. To withdraw Dave Weldon to lead centers for disease control and prevention. Dr. Weldon's long -term views against certain vaccines weakened his chances of confirmation.
Given that older Americans are advised to receive certain vaccines because they are the most vulnerable to diseases such as Covid, the flu and pneumonia, it is possible that Dr. OZ on immunization will also be interesting for the senate panel that revised its qualifications.
Moreover, some members of the Senate Finance Committee will probably be Dr. Grilling Oz about his countless financial ties, many conflicts of interest would form if he led the agency.
He has made tens of millions of dollars that pitch nutritional supplements and other products on television and social media, and many of the companies with which he has connections can benefit from his confirmation.
In an attempt to reduce some of his conflicts, he announced in February that, if confirmed, he would sell his interest in more than 70 companies and investment funds, including UnitedHealth Group, HCA Healthcare and Amazon, who now has considerable healthcare companies. His business and family ownership are valued near around $ 90 million to $ 335 million, according to a recent legal submission.
From the Senate Democrats, they are expected to support Dr. Vocal. Giving OZ at home for the controversial private insurance plans for older Americans known as Medicare Advantage. The insurers who exploit these plans have come under intense criticism, accused of the too much charging of the government and refusing patients who have the necessary care. Dr. OZ has also had close ties with companies that sell the plans, many of which have also been accused of exaggerated aggressive marketing tactics.
As manager of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Dr. OZ determine how closely the Agency the Medicare Advantage industry would follow. He can also encourage people to register for private plans instead of the traditional program run by the government. Medicare now covers around 68 million people, with just over half that now receives insurance through Medicare Advantage plans. Almost seven million of those on Medicare are younger than 65.
Little is known about the views of Dr. OZ about Medicaid, the enormous state federal program that offers coverage to 72 million low incomes and disabled Americans, some of whom are also on Medicare. Republicans in the congress look at the program to possibly find no less than $ 880 billion in cutbacks, which could lead to much fewer people eligible for health coverage and influencing how many individual states should contribute.
Senate Democrats also want answers about his recent income tax requests, aimed at whether he has paid the required amount for Medicare taxes, according to a memo of the committee's staff assessed by the New York Times.
“The Office of Government Ethics has carried out an extensive assessment of Dr. Oz's finances as part of the regular control process,” said Christopher Krepich, his spokesperson.
The ethical office has informed the Senate that “all potential conflicts have been resolved and he is in accordance with the law,” Mr. Krepich added.
But Senator Elizabeth Warren, the Democrat from Massachusetts, sent a letter of 28 pages to Dr. Oz and explicitly demanded that he gave answers about his positions and potential conflicts.
“The agency deserves a leader who is willing to put the interests of patients, providers and taxpayers first – not a person trying to privatize these programs and spent much of his career in benefit from entities that every last health care dollar has pinched patients and taxpayers,” she said.
