Dr. OZ stands in front of senators at a hearing for confirmation to monitor Medicare and Medicaid
Dr. Mehmet OZ, the TV Promi Doctor, will probably be on Friday before a tense hearing. The democratic senators plan to ask how he would now monitor Medicare and Medicaid, since the Republicans and the Trump administration weigh significant changes for millions of Americans.
The possible plans taken into account by the Republican legislators and President Trump include a serious reduction in health insurance protection for people with low income and a greater shift compared to private plans for older Americans.
Dr. OZ, 64, a cardiothoracic surgeon that became famous for his successful daily show seems to be ready to secure confirmation by the full Senate.
His hearing for confirmation is one of the last Trump candidates, whose agencies are under the jurisdiction of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nation’s health secretary. Mr. Trump’s decision immediately follows on Thursday, the nomination of Dr. To withdraw Dave Weldon to lead the centers for the control and prevention of diseases. Dr. Weldon’s long -standing views against certain vaccines weakened his chances of confirmation.
In view of the fact that older Americans receive certain vaccines, since they are among the most endangered diseases such as covid, flu and pneumonia, it is possible that Dr. Oz ‘positions on immunization will also be of interest to the Senate body that will check its qualifications.
In addition, some members of the Finance Committee of the Senate Dr. OZ grill over his countless financial relationships, many of which would represent troubling conflicts of interest if he would lead the agency.
He recorded tens of million dollars with nutritional supplements and other products on television and on social media, and many of the companies to which he has connections could benefit from his confirmation.
In the attempt to mitigate some of his conflicts, he announced in February that he was interested in more than 70 companies and investment funds, including the Unitedhealth Group, the HCA Healthcare and Amazon, which now has significant healthcare. According to a recent submission in the recent regulatory submission near around $ 90 million, up to $ 335 million, his business and family ownership are estimated.
The Senate Democrats are expected to support Dr. OZ for the controversial private insurance plans for older Americans as a Medicare Advantage at home. The insurers who operate these plans have been intensively criticized and accused of having overloaded the government and refusing the patient the necessary care. Dr. OZ also had close relationships to companies that sell the plans, many of which were accused of excessively aggressive marketing tactics.
As administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Dr. OZ determine how exactly the agency would monitor the Medicare Advantage industry. He could also encourage people to register for private plans instead of the traditional program. Medicare now covers around 68 million people, whereby a little more than half is insured by Medicare Advantage plans. Almost seven million of Medicare are under 65.
About Dr. Oz ‘views on Medicaid, the huge state-federal program, which covers 72 million unit and disabled Americans, some of whom also cover Medicare is little known. The Republicans in the Congress observe the program to potentially find up to 880 billion US dollars, which could cause far fewer people to take up for health insurance and have to affect the influence of the individual states.
The Senate’s Democrats also want answers to its latest income tax applications, which concentrate on whether he paid the required amount for Medicare taxes.
“The Office for Government Ethics carried out a comprehensive review of the finances of Dr. OZ as part of the regular review process,” said Christopher Krepich, his speaker.
The ethics office informed the Senate that “potential conflicts were solved and that it corresponds to the law,” added Krepich.
But Senator Elizabeth Warren, the Democrat from Massachusetts, sent a 28-page letter to Dr. Oz and pointed out that he provides answers to his positions and potential conflicts.
“The agency deserves a guide who is willing to first set the interests of patients, providers and taxpayers – no person who tries to privatize these programs, and has spent a large part of his career to benefit from companies that move out every last health dollar from patients and taxpayers,” she said.
