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2mo ago

Elizabeth Warren Presses Dr. Mehmet Oz on Financial Conflicts Ahead of CMS Confirmation

The senator urges the nominee to divest from health industry ties and commit to ethics safeguards before overseeing Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Ranking Member, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) speaks during a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee confirmation hearing on President Trump's nominees to lead the National Economic Council, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Federal Housing Finance Agency, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 27, 2025. REUTERS/Annabelle Gordon
Pennsylvania Republican Senate candidate Mehmet Oz delivers remarks at a rally ahead of the 2022 U.S. midterm elections in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S., November 7, 2022. REUTERS/Hannah Beier
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Overview

  • Sen. Elizabeth Warren has called on Dr. Mehmet Oz to fully divest from financial interests in healthcare and pharmaceutical companies before his confirmation as CMS administrator.
  • Oz, known for his celebrity status and financial ties to Medicare Advantage and pharmaceutical firms, faces scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest.
  • Warren's letter highlights Oz's past endorsements of products and services tied to companies that could benefit from CMS policies under his leadership.
  • Medicare Advantage lobbying efforts, costing over $330 million in the past five years, have drawn criticism for overpayments and privatization concerns, which Oz has previously supported.
  • The Senate Finance Committee will hold Oz's confirmation hearing Friday, with Democrats expected to question his financial ties and positions on Medicare and Medicaid policy.