Overview

• Dr. Mehmet Oz, nominated by President Trump to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is undergoing a Senate Finance Committee confirmation hearing today.
• Oz's past promotion of unproven weight loss supplements and involvement in related lawsuits has drawn criticism from medical experts and lawmakers alike.
• Democrats are expected to question Oz's financial ties to healthcare companies, his alleged underpayment of Social Security and Medicare taxes, and his stance on privatizing Medicare.
• If confirmed, Oz would oversee $1.5 trillion in federal spending on Medicare and Medicaid, which cover over 150 million Americans, and could influence key policy decisions such as drug coverage expansions.
• Oz has pledged to divest from several healthcare-related companies and resign from advisory roles to address potential conflicts of interest.