Dr. Oz for CMS: Talk Show Star or Qualified Leader?

By Jason Collins

 

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed here are those of the authors. View more opinion on ScoonTV

Donald Trump’s picks to run government departments have been controversial, to say the least, and his pick for running the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has certainly got tongues wagging. A celebrity heart surgeon turned talk show host with more than one controversy surrounding his name, Dr. Mehmet Oz, now oversees the nation’s largest health insurance program.

But is he qualified to manage the insurance coverage of some 160 million people? Does being a talk show host with a medical background qualify one for such an important role in government? Well, according to Trump, yes. Stick around as we explore whether Dr. Oz is qualified to lead Medicaid and Medicare. 

Senate Confirms Dr Oz Will Lead 

In November last year, Trump announced Dr. Oz as his pick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). NPR reported that in March, during his opening statement at Capitol Hill, Dr. Oz told members of the Senate Finance Committee,

I commit to doing whatever I can, working tirelessly to ensure that CMS provides Americans with access to superb care, especially Americans who are most vulnerable: our young, our disabled, and our elderly. 

This statement went down like a spoonful of sugar, as on April 3 this year, the chamber voted 53 to 45 along party lines to confirm Oz as the leader of America’s government healthcare insurance. Oz’s role will involve overseeing how physicians are paid through these programs. He will be the new frontman on key changes like the Medicaid reform, where House Republicans on the Energy and Commerce Committee are seeking $880 billion in savings.  

When Trump announced that Oz was his pick, NBC News reported that he said Oz would 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 added,

He will also cut waste and fraud within our Country’s most expensive Government Agency.

But for now, Oz has not indicated whether he supports or opposes funding cuts to the insurance programs, but has indicated that he would promote healthier lifestyles and integrate artificial intelligence and telehealth into the system. 

However, it’s not going to be easy for the talk show host because there are fewer staff members due to the staff cuts carried out by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). 

Rise To Fame 

Trained as a heart surgeon at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in 1986, he later became a professor of surgery at the university in 2001. He retired as professor emeritus in 2018. His rise to fame really grew in 2009 with the start of his controversial The Dr. Oz Show, a daytime show launched by Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions and Sony Pictures Television. 

During the 13 seasons that the show ran, Oz earned himself some criticism from physicians and medical publications because he promoted pseudoscience and alternative medical beliefs. In fact,  in 2022, Columbia University disaffiliated with Oz. 

Controversial Medical Claims  

Very quickly, Dr. Oz became a household name worldwide, but the line between providing trusted medical advice and advertising was often blurred. 

Over the years, Oz has been named in multiple lawsuits for misleading claims and promoting questionable products. While he has built a tremendous following, this is built on advice that is not backed by evidence. The spreading of evidence-free health advice is not something the medical community takes lightly, and a group of physicians from Columbia University raised some concerns back in 2015 by penning a letter to the university, writing, “Dr. Oz has repeatedly shown disdain for science and evidence-based medicine,” and

He has manifested an egregious lack of integrity by promoting quack treatments and cures in the interest of personal financial gain.  

One of the biggest controversies that is still in the back of Americans’ minds when they think of the new CMS leader is when he touted hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19 (which has been debunked by the medical community). 

It was later revealed that he had ties to at least two pharmaceutical companies that supply hydroxychloroquine, which makes one question whether he should be allowed to oversee the country’s largest medical insurance program and what he has to gain from this level of power. In addition, Oz has invested a substantial part of his wealth in healthcare giants like UnitedHealth Group, a business partner of CMS. However, he did confirm he would sell these stock investments if confirmed for the position. 

What To Expect

Oz’s close friendship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who aligns closely with Kennedy’s views of rejecting vaccine mandates, gives us insight into what to expect from his leadership. In the past, Oz has been an enthusiastic supporter of Medicare Advantage and making Medicare Advantage available to everyone, which would require a hefty 20% payroll tax to implement. 

During his hearing in March, Oz indicated that he may also consider improving physician resources, as doctors currently dislike Medicaid because of its low payments.  

Is Dr Oz Qualified To Lead Medicare and Medicaid?  

The biggest question in all of this: Is Oz fit for this role? While he may know a lot about healthcare and does have a strong medical background as a surgeon, this doesn’t translate into policy experience, which, combined with his past controversies, doesn’t inspire confidence in his ability in his new job. With all the proposed changes from Senate Republicans regarding the government-backed insurance programs, there are going to be a lot of public policy fights, and a lack of experience in this department is going to make it difficult. Sure, he can learn the basics in a few days, but this is not going to be enough, especially when some Republican lawmakers have set their sights on seeking $880 billion in savings from government-backed medical programs. 

Overseeing the healthcare of more than 160 million Americans is going to require a deep understanding of policy. More importantly, this role requires a track record of prioritizing public health over personal or political gain with a commitment to evidence-based practices, which is something that Dr. Oz has yet to demonstrate so far. 

Medical coverage is something that people take very personally, and these government-backed programs are incredibly important to voters. Will Oz make this program better or just slash benefits? The jury is still out on who Oz is going to be looking after. While he hasn’t explicitly opposed benefit cuts, as a Trump loyalist, he will need to do his part in keeping campaign promises of limiting the role of government and also reducing spending. Don’t forget he has a track record of promoting questionable medical advice and has ties to corporate healthcare interests, so it’s fair to ask who he is ultimately looking for. The American people or the bottom line of healthcare stakeholders? The next few years will tell.  

Curtis Scoon is the founder of ScoonTv.com Download the ScoonTv App to join our weekly livestream every Tuesday @ 8pm EST!