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Oz testifying at the Senate Finance Committee on March 14. Photo: Kent Nishimura for The Washington Post via Getty Images
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The Senate on Thursday confirmed Mehmet Oz to be CMS administrator on a 53-45 party line vote.
Why it matters: Oz will take the helm of the agency as congressional Republicans are considering major changes to Medicaid that could result in coverage losses.
- There also have been sweeping staff cuts throughout federal health agencies, though CMS was spared from the brunt of the DOGE-directed reductions.
Catch up quick: The former heart surgeon and TV talk show host ducked questions about possible Medicaid cuts and how DOGE could affect the big health programs during a relatively smooth confirmation hearing at Senate Finance last month.
- He said that he supported Medicaid work requirements and also signaled he could be open to looking at changes to eligibility within the ACA’s expansion population.
- Oz also said he would “defend” and “use” the Medicare drug price negotiation program in the Inflation Reduction Act.
- Despite past support for Medicare Advantage, he was critical of some insurers’ practice of “upcoding,” or categorizing patients as sicker to get higher payments, vowing he would “go after it.”
Addressing DOGE cuts, Oz said that he planned to be “speaking to the staff, raising morale, getting people excited” once confirmed.
- CMS has reportedly cut about 300 jobs, including in areas like minority health, program operations and local engagement.
Between the lines: Sen. Josh Hawley was the lone Republican senator to raise concerns about Oz’s qualifications, citing his past support for abortion and gender affirming medical care.
- Oz sent a letter responding to Hawley’s questions last week that disavowed past positions and stating that he agreed with the Dobbs decision striking the federal right to abortion and is “pro-life.”
- That was enough to assuage Hawley, who voted to confirm Oz on Thursday.
