President-elect Donald Trump recently announced his selection for the new leader of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Dr. Oz. There are mixed reactions to this news, with many outraged by the controversial pick. The main question many people have is what will happen to Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act?
Dr. Oz’s full name is Mehmet Oz, a famous TV personality and heart surgeon. He is most well known as the host of The Dr. Oz Show, a daytime talk show about health and wellness [1]. However, he was heavily criticized for his promotion of sham medical products and cures such as diet pills. He cultivated a reputation as a trusted doctor, but he gained substantial wealth through promoting companies he was invested in on his show and has a net worth of $100 million to $315 million [2]. This could pose a serious conflict of interest if he is to run CMS. Critics worry about his credibility and prioritizing enriching himself via his new position over running CMS.
CMS administers Medicare, Medicaid, and oversees the Affordable Carea Act marketplace, which over 160 million people rely on for healthcare [2]. This agency also controls a significant portion of the federal budget. It is essential to have a leader that can promote healthcare access, affordability, and innovation. It is unclear if Dr. Oz will be up to the task. There are several favorable influences he could have on CMS, and some that could be negative.
In 2010 Dr. Oz ran an ad in California promoting President Obama’s affordable care act, prompting people to get insured under the new act [1]. He is also a supporter of Medicare Advantage and suggested it should be offered to everyone in the US [1]. It is likely that as the leader of CMS, Oz will try to expand Medicare Advantage plans. It is also probable that he will attempt to reduce waste and fraud in Medicare. However, the Affordable Care Act may become much less affordable. Oz and the Republican Congress may allow the enhanced health insurance subsidies to expire in 2025 which would make many Americans lose their health insurance due to the high cost [3].
As healthcare policies evolve under new leadership, companies will need to ensure they are ready for any changes. EMMA International helps organizations navigate these changes seamlessly, ensuring compliance with evolving federal guidelines
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[1] Sandberg (2016) ‘The Dr. Oz Show’ Renewed for Season 10, Retrieved on 26 November from: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/dr-oz-show-renewed-season-901022/
[2] Cooper (2024) What to know about Dr. Mehmet Oz, Trump’s pick to lead Medicare and Medicaid, Retrieved on 26 November from: https://apnews.com/article/dr-oz-mehmet-things-to-know-trump-be62594d66e07b9544e48ddf9febf7bf
[3] Cerullo (2024) With ACA subsidies set to expire in 2025, millions of Americans stand to lose health insurance, Retrieved on 26 November from: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-aca-subsidies-health-insurance-affordable-care-act-congress/
