Overview

• Dr. Mehmet Oz, former TV host and heart surgeon, has been confirmed to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) by a strictly partisan Senate vote.
• As CMS administrator, Dr. Oz will manage Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP, programs that collectively provide health coverage to nearly half of the U.S. population.
• His confirmation aligns with the Trump administration's 'Make America Healthy Again' initiative, focusing on modernization, cost-cutting, and preventative care.
• Critics have raised concerns about his history of promoting unproven medical treatments and potential support for Medicaid cuts and Medicare privatization.
• CMS was largely spared from recent staffing reductions at federal health agencies, though Dr. Oz faces immediate challenges, including addressing Medicaid reform debates in Congress.