Experts react to Dr Oz being Trump’s pick for Medicare and Medicaid

Dr Mehmet Oz, a celebrity surgeon and former daytime TV host, is now President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The role oversees two of the nation’s largest healthcare programs, Medicare and Medicaid, with a combined annual budget of $2.6 trillion. Naturally, this choice has sparked intense debate among experts, insiders, and, of course, the internet.

What is Dr Oz’s view on healthcare, Medicare and Medicaid?

Dr Oz is no stranger to polarizing opinions. He rose to fame blending medical advice with entertainment, and critics often accused him of promoting unproven treatments for ratings. During the covid-19 pandemic, he advocated for dubious remedies like hydroxychloroquine, a position aligned with Trump’s own controversial stances. While his television persona has made him a household name, his nomination raises concerns about his readiness to manage complex federal programs serving over 140 million Americans.

One health policy expert, speaking on condition of anonymity to Reuters, quipped, “CMS isn’t a talk show set. Running it requires real expertise, not a catchy tagline.”

Oz’s appointment comes as part of a broader healthcare strategy under the Trump administration, which, it is said, aims to reduce costs and tackle fraud. Trump has dubbed the current system a “broken Healthcare System” that “crushes our Country’s budget.” Alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the nominee for Health and Human Services Secretary, Oz is expected to take aim at the so-called “illness industrial complex” and shift focus toward chronic disease prevention.

While Oz’s past advocacy for expanding Medicare Advantage plans suggests he supports some private-sector involvement in healthcare, analysts caution that his track record leaves much unclear. Evan Seigerman, an analyst at BMO was quoted as saying that “his stance on Medicare expansion and pricing could be a positive for the industry – but let’s not forget the controversies.”

Oz’s critics point to his history of promoting Medicare Advantage plans on his syndicated TV show. Some segments were sponsored by websites selling these plans, which raises ethical questions about his impartiality.

What next for Medicaid and Medicare?

Trump’s campaign promise not to cut Medicare is juxtaposed with an expectation to let expanded Medicaid subsidies expire by 2025. This move would affect millions of low-income Americans, many of whom gained coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Trump and his allies have long pushed to overhaul Obamacare, but specifics remain vague. Every time he has been asked of the alternative he has been unable to provide one.

Healthcare companies, however, seem relatively unfazed by the latest news. Shares in UnitedHealth, Humana, and Molina Healthcare rose modestly after Oz’s nomination, suggesting cautious optimism – or perhaps just relief he’s not as pharmaceutical-critical as RFK Jr. Time will tell, and there may be some Trump voters already having buyer’s remorse, hoping the Senate does not approve this questionable pick.

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