Dr. Mehmet Oz Nominated to Lead CMS

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Dr. Mehmet Oz, a former television personality and heart surgeon, to serve as the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which oversees health coverage for over 160 million Americans. Trump praised Oz as an eminent physician capable of addressing the nation's healthcare crisis and emphasized his plans to incentivize disease prevention and reduce waste and fraud within CMS. Oz, who previously lost a U.S. Senate race in Pennsylvania, will work closely with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nominated for the Health and Human Services Department, to tackle chronic diseases. The nomination raises questions about Oz's lack of experience in managing large government agencies and his controversial history in promoting certain medical treatments on his TV show. If confirmed, Oz will oversee critical programs like Medicare and Medicaid, which provide health coverage to vulnerable populations. Trump's intention to use recess appointments may alter the typical Senate confirmation process for Oz and other nominees.