Dr. Mehmet Oz, TV Dr. Celebrit, will face a tense confirmation hearing on Friday, while democratic senators plan to doubt Medicare and Medicaid that the Republicans and Trump’s administration weigh significant changes affecting millions of US.
Possible plans considered by Republican legislators and President Trump include a serious reduction in health insurance for low -income people and a greater shift towards private plans for older Americans.
Dr. OZ, 64 years, a cardiotorack surgeon who has given up his successful daily show seems to be ready to ensure a full Senate confirmation.
His confirmation hearing is one of the last of the nominated Trumps, whose agencies fall into the jurisdiction of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Minister of Health of the Nation. This is immediately followed by Mr. Trump’s decision on Thursday withdraw the nomination Dr. Dave Weldon leads the centers for disease control and prevention. Long -term views of Dr. Weldon weakened his chances of confirmation against certain vaccines.
Since the older Americans are recommended to receive certain vaccines because it is one of the most vulnerable to diseases such as Covid, flu and pneumonia, it is possible that the position of Dr. Oz for immunization will also be interesting for the panel of the Senate, which reviews its qualifications.
In addition, some members of the Senate Financial Committee probably about its countless financial tiesof which many would be disturbing clashes of interest if they were to lead an agency.
On television and social media, he created tens of millions of dollars that Pitch Dietary Accessories and other products, and many companies that have a connection could benefit from its confirmation.
In an effort to alleviate some of his conflicts in February, he announced that if it were confirmed, he sold his interest in more than 70 companies and investment funds, including the Unitedhealth Group, HCA Healthcare and Amazon, which now have significant health companies. His business and family possession are awarded in Neighborhood of about $ 90 million to $ 335 millionAccording to recent regulatory submission.
The Senate Democrats are expected to be home to voice support for controversial private insurance plans for older Americans known as Medicare Advantage. Insurers operating these plans got under intensive criticism, accusations of overcharging and denying patients necessary care. Dr. OZ also had close links to companies selling plans, many of which were also accused of too aggressive marketing tactics.
As administrator of the Medicare and Medicaid Services Center. Ozh determined how carefully the agency would follow the Medicare Advantage industry. He could also encourage people to enroll in private plans instead of a traditional government program. Medicare now covers approximately 68 million people, while a little more than half now receives insurance through Medicare Advantage plans. Almost seven million people on Medicare are under 65 years of age.
About Dr. OZ on Medicaid, a huge state federal program that provides 72 million Americans with low -income and affected Americans, is little known, some of which are also on Medicare. Republicans in Congress are look at the program If you want to potentially find up to $ 880 billion in cuts, which could lead to much less people to be entitled to health coverage and influence how many individual states have to contribute.
The Democrats of the Senate also want answers to their recent income taxes focusing on whether he paid the required amount for Medicare taxes, according to the comment of the New York Times committee.
“The Office of Government Ethics was conducted by Dr. OZ as part of the regular process of review,” said his spokesman Christopher Krepich.
The Ethics Authority informed the Senate that “any conflicts were resolved and is in accordance with the law,” Krepich added.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts, sent a 28 -page letter to Dr. Oz and sharply demanded to provide answers to its positions and potential conflicts.
“The agency deserves a leader who is willing to first build the interests of patients, providers and taxpayers – not an individual who seeks to privatize these programs and benefited most of his career from entities that squeezed every last dollar in health care from patients and taxpayers,” she said.
