Senators Question Dr. Oz on Possibility of Medicaid Cuts, Payment Problems at Confirmation Hearing

Instead of directly responding to questions about potential spending cuts, Oz focused on improving health, patient care, and payment systems using technology.

Dr. Mehmet Oz testifies during a confirmation hearing with the Senate Finance Committee in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington on March 14, 2025. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Dr. Mehmet Oz, the celebrity physician nominated to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, faced pointed questions from senators on both sides of the aisle during his nearly three-hour confirmation hearing.

President Donald Trump nominated Oz to head the federal agency that provides health coverage to more than 160 million people and spends one in five taxpayer dollars through Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Health Insurance Marketplace.