Dr. Mehmet Oz Faces Senate Hearing Amid $440,000 Tax Avoidance and Medicare Privatization Concerns

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Updated Mar 14, 2025, 10:39 AM

Dr. Mehmet Oz, President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), is set to testify before the Senate Finance Committee on Friday. The CMS oversees major healthcare programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act, which collectively provide health insurance to over 160 million Americans and manage a $1.5 trillion annual budget. Democratic senators have raised concerns about Oz's financial practices, citing a memo that alleges he significantly underpaid Social Security and Medicare taxes between 2021 and 2023, including paying no Medicare taxes in 2023. The memo estimates he avoided approximately $440,000 in taxes through a limited liability loophole. Oz's team maintains that he complied with the law, and the Office of Government Ethics has cleared him of conflicts of interest. Oz's financial ties to private healthcare companies, including iHerb, and his past support for Medicare Advantage, a privatized alternative to traditional Medicare, have also drawn scrutiny. Democratic senators, including Elizabeth Warren, have expressed concerns about his advocacy for further privatization of Medicare and his financial interests in companies that could benefit from such policies. Additionally, Oz's controversial statements on abortion rights during his 2022 Senate campaign and his history of endorsing unproven medical products have added to the debate surrounding his nomination. If confirmed, Oz will oversee programs critical to millions of Americans, while facing ongoing questions about his financial and ethical record.

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Sources

bloomberg.com(2)reuters.com(2)wsj.com abcnews.go.com

The Wall Street Journal

@WSJ

Celebrity TV host Dr. Oz is an unusual choice to lead a $1.5 trillion federal agency that provides health insurance for over 160 million Americans and is facing unprecedented challenges https://t.co/yQl6jIKn8f

ABC News

@ABC

Dr. Mehmet Oz, Pres. Trump's pick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, faces a confirmation hearing Friday before the Senate Finance Committee. https://t.co/g6stK5Dtir

Bloomberg

@business

Dr. Oz will face Senators' questions about his fitness to lead CMS after revelations that he didn't pay Medicare and Social Security taxes https://t.co/1R7IQpj1vn