Dr. Oz will face senators during interrogation to supervise Medicare and Medicaid

It is expected that Dr. Mehmet Oz, a television celebrity doctor, will stand on Friday with a tense interrogation, and democratic senators plan to question how he supervises Medicare and Medicaid now, when the Republicans and Trump administration are considering significant changes affecting millions of Americans.

Among the possible plans considered by republican legislators and President Trump are a sedate reduction in health insurance for people with low income and a larger transition to private plans for older Americans.

64 -year -old Dr. Oz, a cardiotoric surgeon who celebrated his successful show during the day seems to be ready to ensure confirmation of the full senate.

His interrogation in confirmation is one of the last nominees for Trump, whose agencies are subject to the jurisdiction of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary for Health of the Nation. It follows directly on Thursday that Mr. Trump about the withdrawal of Dr. Dave Weldon’s nomination for directing the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Weldon’s views have long been against some vaccines weakened his chances of confirmation.

Considering that older Americans are recommended to receive some vaccines, because they belong to the most sensitive to diseases such as Covid, flu and pneumonia, it is possible that Dr. OZ positions on immunity will also be compelling for the Senate review of his qualifications.

In addition, some members of the Senate Finance Committee probably grill Dr. Oza about his countless financial ties, many of which would constitute disturbing conflicts of interest if he had been conducting an agency.

He made tens of millions of dollars that issue dietary supplements and other products on television and social media, and many companies with whom they have connections that could benefit from its confirmation.

Trying to alleviate some of his conflicts, in February he announced that if it was confirmed, he would sell his interest in over 70 companies and investment funds, including Unitedhealth Group, HCA Healthcare and Amazon, which now has significant health care projects. According to a recent regulatory application, his business and family are valued in the vicinity of about 90 million to $ 335 million.

It is expected that the Senate Democrats in Dr. Oza’s voice for controversial private insurance plans for older Americans known as Medicare Advantage. Insurers serving these plans had intensive criticism, accused of overloading the government and denying patients the necessary care. Dr. Oz also had close connections with companies selling plans, many of which were also accused of too aggressive marketing tactics.

As the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator, Dr. Oz determined how the agency strictly monitored the Medicare Advantage industry. He could also encourage people to sign up for private plans instead of a established government program. Medicare now includes about 68 million people, and just over half now receive insurance via Medicare Advantage plans. Almost seven million people in Medicare are less than 65 years antique.

Little is known about the views of Dr. Oz on Medicaid, a huge federal program that provides a range of 72 million Americans with low income and disabled, some of which are also in Medicare. Republicans in Congress observe the program potentially to find cuts up to $ 880 billion, which can cause that much less people qualify for health protection and influence how many individual countries must contribute.

The Democrats Senate also wants to answer his last income tax applications, focusing on whether he paid the required amount for Medicare taxes, in accordance with the employees of the employees of the Committee checked by the Up-to-date York Times.

“The Government Ethics Office conducted an extensive review of Dr. Oza’s finances as part of the regular verification process,” said Christopher Krepich, his spokesman.

The Office of Ethics informed the Senate that “all potential conflicts were resolved and is lawful,” added Krepich.

But Senator Elizabeth Warren, a democrat of Massachusetts, sent a 28-page letter to Dr. Oza on Thursday, demanding that he answer his positions and potential conflicts.

“The agency deserves a leader who is willing to present the interests of patients, suppliers and taxpayers – and not a person who tries to privatize these programs and spent a significant part of their career for the benefit of entities that squeezes every last dollar of healthcare from patients and taxpayers,” she said.