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Trump nominates Dr. Oz to lead CMS

November 20, 2024

Mehmet Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon and former talk show host, has been selected by President-elect Donald Trump to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), overseeing a federal health agency that serves over a third of Americans.1

Oz gained fame through his appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show and his own program, The Dr. Oz Show, which aired for 13 seasons. Although he stopped performing surgeries in 2018, his medical license remains active in Pennsylvania. Oz has been involved in various health initiatives and has authored several bestsellers, but his career has also faced scrutiny for promoting products of questionable medical value. He previously ran for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, where he leveraged his celebrity status and secured Trump's endorsement, although he ultimately lost in the general election.

Additionally, Trump’s nomination of Oz has raised eyebrows, particularly given Oz's lack of experience in managing a large federal agency. His selection follows a trend of appointing TV personalities to key government roles. CMS oversees health insurance programs for over 150 million Americans and plays a crucial role in regulating healthcare costs and policies. Trump noted that Oz would collaborate with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to address chronic diseases, while Oz's past controversial endorsements of unverified treatments have drawn criticism from medical experts. Furthermore, Oz has proposed a universal health coverage system that diverges from traditional conservative policies, which may influence his approach to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, if he's confirmed.2

Sources:

1. Cooper, J.J. (2024, November 19). What to know about Dr. Mehmet Oz, Trump’s pick to lead Medicare and Medicaid. https://apnews.com/article/dr-oz-mehmet-things-to-know-trump-be62594d66e07b9544e48ddf9febf7bf

2. Welland N, et al. (2024, November 19). The New York Times. Trump Plans to Nominate Dr. Mehmet Oz to Oversee Medicare, Medicaid and Obamacare. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/19/us/politics/trump-dr-oz-medicare-medicaid.html