Dr. Oz confirmed by Senate to run Medicare and Medicaid, managing care for millions

WASHINGTON - Dr. Mehmet Oz, the former heart surgeon and television personality, was confirmed Thursday as the new head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in a party-line 53-45 Senate vote.

Oz now takes over an agency that manages government health insurance for roughly half of Americans, including through Medicare, Medicaid, and Affordable Care Act coverage. His confirmation comes at a pivotal moment, as Congress debates potential Medicaid cuts and the Biden-era expansion of public health coverage faces sweeping changes under the Trump administration.

What Oz plans to do at CMS

Big picture view:

In confirmation hearings, Oz outlined a vision that includes encouraging healthy lifestyles, using artificial intelligence and telehealth, and rethinking rural health delivery systems. He also voiced support for work requirements for some Medicaid recipients, though he said excessive paperwork shouldn’t be used to deny coverage.

Oz acknowledged that many physicians are reluctant to accept Medicaid due to low reimbursement rates and limited resources. He noted that expanding eligibility without expanding support has stretched care even thinner for vulnerable groups like children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities.

"We have to make some important decisions to improve the quality of care," he told senators.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, nominee to be administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is seen ahead of his hearing in front of the Senate Finance Committee, in Washington, D.C., United States, on March 14, 2025. (Photo by Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Oz has formed a close bond with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., often hosting him and his team in Florida. Both men align closely on Kennedy’s "Make America Healthy Again" campaign, which pushes for changes to the national food supply, rejects vaccine mandates, and questions established scientific consensus on several health topics.

What critics are saying

The other side:

Though Oz has regularly encouraged vaccination, critics have pointed to his past promotion of unproven supplements and holistic treatments, a hallmark of what supporters now call the "MAHA movement." His ties to Kennedy and his unconventional health positions have raised concerns among public health advocates and some lawmakers.

Oz has not yet said whether he will oppose or support the looming cuts to Medicaid, leaving uncertainty over how he’ll navigate one of the most consequential policy fights affecting low-income and disabled Americans.

What’s happening at CMS and other agencies

What's next:

Oz enters CMS as the agency undergoes a limited round of layoffs. Unlike the deep staff cuts affecting other federal health agencies—such as the CDC, FDA, and NIH—CMS will lose around 300 workers, including some involved in minority health initiatives and cost-reduction programs.

The downsizing reflects broader shifts under the Trump administration’s second term, which has prioritized dramatic restructuring of federal agencies, including public health.