FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 03 2025
Contact: Emma Bittner
(972) 510-3395 | Emma.Bittner@younginvincibles.org
Health Care Isn’t Hollywood
(Washington, DC) –Dr. Mehmet Oz showed a lack of credibility and ethics during questioning for his confirmation hearing as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Heart surgeon and TV personality Dr. Oz has spread harmful misinformation, as well as inconsistent narratives around Covid-19, vaccines, supplements, and abortion. Additionally, Oz advocated for the privatization of Medicare in 2020 and expressed the concerning belief that “women, doctors, [and] local political leaders” should have a say in a woman’s reproductive health decisions, both issues he would have authority over if confirmed. This hearing was an opportunity for Oz to provide clarity. Instead, he continued his inconsistent narratives and failed to give a definitive answer on his intentions for CMS.
The full Senate vote to confirm Oz is expected later today.
In response, Mina Schultz, Health Care Policy and Advocacy Manager of Young Invincibles said:
“This hearing underscored Dr. Mehmet Oz’s unfitness to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and exposed how his conflicting ethics pose a danger to the American people. He consistently dodged questions and failed to provide confirmation that he would push back on the dangerous health care policies set forth by the current administration. Furthermore, Oz’s harmful views regarding reproductive health care and misleading narratives puts the American people at risk, compromising their well-being and access to comprehensive care.
As Administrator, Oz would be in charge of Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP, in which nearly 150 million people are enrolled in total. Additionally, the thriving Affordable Care Act marketplaces that cover an additional 24 millions people, and which are already coming under attack from this administration, would be overseen by Oz. In a letter to Senator Josh Hawley, Oz walked back his support of abortion and gender-affirming care for trans people, posing significant harm to those who need access to this life-saving care. Americans deserve a CMS administrator who will prioritize their well-being and invest in their access to affordable care, and Oz’s prime concerns lie within the political game.”
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Young Invincibles (YI) is a national advocacy and policy nonprofit organization focused on amplifying the voice of young people in the political process at the local, state, and federal levels. YI focuses on issues impacting young adults ages 18 to 34 in higher education, health care, economic security, and civic engagement. Our offices include Washington, D.C., California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, and Texas. For more information, please contact Emma Bittner at (972) 510-3395 or emma.bittner@younginvincibles.org