The U.S. Senate has confirmed Dr. Mehmet Oz as the new head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in a 53-45 vote that ran along party lines. The confirmation on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, places the celebrity doctor and cardiothoracic surgeon at the helm of an agency that oversees healthcare coverage for more than 150 million Americans.
Dr. Oz, who gained fame through his Emmy-winning daytime television show before an unsuccessful Senate bid in 2022, will now manage programs that significantly influence healthcare pricing and policy across the United States.
Political Context and Healthcare Policy Implications
The appointment comes at a critical juncture for U.S. healthcare policy, with the Trump administration and Republican lawmakers reportedly considering substantial changes to Medicaid. During his confirmation hearing, Dr. Oz acknowledged issues with Medicare Advantage—the private insurance plans for older Americans that have faced criticism for billions in alleged overbilling by insurers.
"There's a new sheriff in town," Dr. Oz stated during his hearing, attempting to reassure senators about his approach to oversight of these programs.
The confirmation follows President Trump's earlier statement that Oz would "work closely with Robert Kennedy Jr. to take on the illness industrial complex, and all the horrible chronic diseases left in its wake." Kennedy was appointed last week to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees CMS.
Shifting Positions and Financial Considerations
Dr. Oz's confirmation hearing revealed notable shifts in his previously held positions. He stated he would no longer support transgender care for minors and described himself as "unequivocally pro-life," marking a departure from earlier stances on these issues.
To address potential conflicts of interest, Dr. Oz announced in February that he would sell his interests in more than 70 companies and investment funds while resigning from various paid advisory roles. Notably, he plans to divest his stake in UnitedHealth Group, the nation's largest provider of private Medicare plans.
Medical Community Reactions
The appointment has generated mixed reactions from healthcare professionals and advocacy groups. Robert Weissman, co-president of consumer advocate group Public Citizen, expressed concern following Dr. Oz's nomination, stating: "What [Americans] do not need is a health care huckster, which unfortunately Dr. Mehmet Oz appears to have become, having spent much of his recent career hawking products of dubious medical value."
Dr. Oz has faced criticism throughout his career for promoting unproven treatments, including advocating for hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine as COVID-19 treatments during the pandemic. In earlier years, he was called to testify before Congress regarding his promotion of weight-loss supplements lacking scientific evidence.
Healthcare Leadership Transformation
The confirmation of Dr. Oz completes a significant transformation of federal health agency leadership. Last week also saw the confirmation of Dr. Jayanta "Jay" Bhattacharya as director of the National Institutes of Health and Dr. Martin A. Makary as Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Dr. Oz previously outlined his healthcare vision in a 2020 Forbes opinion piece, where he advocated for a form of universal health coverage. His plan would enroll Americans not covered by Medicaid in private Medicare Advantage plans, funded by what he described as an "affordable 20 percent payroll tax."
As the new CMS administrator, Dr. Oz will face immediate challenges in addressing Medicare Advantage oversight, potential Medicaid restructuring, and implementing the healthcare priorities of the Trump administration.
