Mehmet Oz
Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Before voting to confirm him as Administrator of CMS, the senate knew that Mehmet Oz rose to widespread fame as a television host and marketer for questionable health products. At least 75 organizations focused on health, advocacy, and the public interest opposed his nomination. He has been the subject of numerous allegations involving undisclosed healthcare financial conflicts of interest, including investments in numerous healthcare and health related enterprises and alleged tax avoidance. His support for medical weight loss treatments has been used in the marketing of products that were falsely advertised for weight loss. Many of these concerns were raised during his confirmation hearing.
Many officials and medical experts have voiced concerns over Oz’s blending of medical advice, news, and entertainment, warning that this approach may harm consumers. Oz has had notable connections with Usana Health Sciences, a company operating as a pyramid scheme involved in dietary supplements. He was compensated over $50 million to promote Usana’s products on his television show.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Oz promoted hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial drug, as a cure for COVID-19. However, in June 2020, the Food and Drug Administration revoked its emergency use authorization, concluding that there was no longer reasonable belief in the drug’s efficacy against COVID-19 or that its benefits outweighed the risks. Since then, a strong body of evidence, including randomized controlled trials which are the gold standard for scientific research, further validated the FDA findings on hydroxychloroquine. Never-the-less, Oz continued to sow doubt with misleading statements like:
". . . I really don’t know if it works or not, we still to this day had not been able to prove if it [hydroxychloroquine] works or not, which is a shame . . ." (CNBC, September 7, 2022).
Notably, Oz owned stock in two companies that produced hydroxychloroquine.
“Arguably the most important office in HHS.”
“One of the most consequential roles in American government.”
The CMS Administrator reports directly to the Secretary of HHS. It is a role that oversees care for 170 million people and manages trillions of dollars in health expenditures. Decisions made by the Administrator directly impact many of our most vulnerable citizens – children, the aged, and disabled.
Responsibilities of the CMS Administrator include:
Administering all federal health programs including Medicare, Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Health Insurance Marketplace
Allocating trillions of dollars in annual health expenditures
Ensuring integrity of all programs and overseeing health quality standards
Issues regulations governing providers and insurers and ensures compliance with relevant federal laws
Advising HHS leadership and the President
