Key Democratic senators, led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, have expressed concerns over Dr. Oz’s previous advocacy for Medicare privatization and deep financial ties to private health insurers in a letter. They referenced a 2020 opinion piece where Oz called for putting all Americans into Medicare Advantage, effectively replacing traditional Medicare, despite concerns of overcharging. While running for Senate in Pennsylvania in 2022, Oz did not call for ending traditional Medicare but did support boosting Medicare Advantage. The senators also mentioned his significant financial ties to UnitedHealth, the largest private insurer in Medicare Advantage, raising questions about financial conflicts of interest. They asked Oz a series of questions, including whether he would continue to support policies that eliminate traditional Medicare if confirmed to lead CMS and if he would commit to opposing efforts to privatize or cut Medicare. The Democratic lawmakers also inquired if he would fully divest from financial holdings related to the insurance industry if confirmed as Administrator. The confirmation process for Oz will likely involve questioning from Democrats, as Republicans hold a majority and would need at least four members to vote against him to derail the pick. Trump’s transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the matter.
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