Dr. Mehmet Oz, widely known as “Dr. Oz” from his television career, has been confirmed by the Senate as the new administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
The Senate voted 53-45 along party lines to approve Oz’s nomination, placing the thoracic surgeon in charge of overseeing healthcare coverage for over 160 million Americans. A procedural vote earlier in the day to advance his nomination passed 50-45, also along party lines.
Oz steps into the role at a time of significant change within the federal healthcare system. Congressional Republicans and the administration have set ambitious targets for reducing healthcare spending, including deep budget cuts in the ongoing reconciliation process and layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
CMS itself saw around 300 job reductions, including cuts to the Office for Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights, the Office of Minority Health, and the Office of Program Operations and Local Engagement.
Oz’s confirmation process was less contentious than that of his new boss, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., but still drew sharp criticism from Senate Democrats.
They raised concerns about Oz’s history as a Medicare Advantage spokesperson, noting that the privatized program leads