Senate Finance Committee Advances Oz's Nomination for CMS Administrator

The Senate Finance Committee has advanced Mehmet Oz's nomination to lead the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) with a 14-13 vote along party lines, moving it to the full Senate for a final decision. Republican members, led by Chair Mike Crapo, praised Oz's medical background and commitment to modernizing healthcare programs, while Democrats criticized his evasiveness on protecting Medicaid from proposed cuts and his support for privatizing Medicare. Despite concerns, Oz is expected to win the confirmation due to the Republican majority in the Senate. Democrats, including Sen. Ron Wyden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, voiced strong opposition, citing Oz's failure to commit to crucial healthcare protections and reforms. If confirmed, Oz would oversee a $1.7 trillion healthcare budget and programs that cover 160 million Americans. His role would include addressing issues like clinician payment systems and pharmaceutical benefit manager reform.