The Senate Finance Committee held a March 14 hearing to consider the nomination of Mehmet Oz, MD, MBA, as administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). During the hearing, lawmakers from both parties raised concerns about rising drug prices, Medicare Advantage (MA) oversight, rural health care access, and waste and fraud prevention in federal health programs.
Republicans largely focused on reducing health care costs, expanding telehealth, and incentivizing preventive medicine, while Democrats raised Medicaid cuts, private equity’s role in health care delivery, and protections for traditional Medicare. Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) praised Oz’s potential contributions to pharmacy benefit manager reform, physician payment fixes, and chronic disease prevention while Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) expressed skepticism about his ties to for-profit insurers and his stance on entitlement programs.
Throughout the hearing, Oz emphasized transparency, AI-driven efficiency, and fraud prevention as his top priorities if confirmed. He pledged to uphold the CMS’ mission while working to reduce administrative burden and stabilize insurance markets. The committee must now hold a vote to move his nomination forward.
- Washington Highlights