Unqualified to Be CMS Administrator, Mehmet Oz Indicates He Will Not Protect the American People

In his confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee, Mehmet Oz failed to distance himself from his previous statements on privatizing Medicare and demonstrated that he is completely unqualified to become the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.

Public Citizen Co-President Robert Weissman issued the following statement:

“Today, Mehmet Oz showed he is profoundly unqualified to lead any part of our healthcare system, let alone an agency as important as CMS. Between his massive conflicts of interest across the healthcare sector and his endorsement of further privatizing Medicare, Oz would be a threat to the health of tens of millions of Americans. Privatized Medicare Advantage plans deliver inferior care and cost taxpayers nearly $100 billion annually in excess costs.

“It is time for President Trump to put down the remote, stop finding nominees on television, and instead nominate people with actual experience and a belief in the importance of protecting crucial health programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

“Trump, Musk, and RFK Jr. fail to put the American people first as they seek to gut agencies and make dangerous cuts to health programs to fund tax cuts for billionaires. Oz indicated he would not oppose such cuts, bringing more destruction to life-saving programs.

“Oz has no place in government and should be roundly rejected by every Senator.”

Click here to read Public Citizen’s analysis on the impacts of expanding Medicare Advantage.