Health Care
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Health Care
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, President Trump’s pick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), largely dodged questions from Democrats on Friday about whether he supported potential cuts to Medicaid. |
Oz, who ran unsuccessfully for Senate in 2022, spoke in broad generalities during his confirmation hearing, using the flair of a seasoned television host to avoid being pinned down on specifics on how he would run the $1.7 trillion agency.
A day after senators complained about the unpreparedness of the White House’s pick to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, whose nomination was pulled an hour before his confirmation hearing, Oz’s charm was on full display. He prefaced each of his answers by sharing a memory from a recent a one-on-one meeting, and then responding to a point the senator made during that meeting. But after the two-and-a-half hour hearing, it was still difficult to get a sense of how Oz will run the country’s insurance programs — Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act’s health exchanges.
Still, his questioning was much less harsh than some of President Trump’s other nominees.
Under consistent prodding from Democrats about his plans for Medicaid, the joint state and federal program for low-income Americans, Oz declined to outright oppose any cuts.
Oz said only that he wants to ensure there are providers who will accept Medicaid patients and that they are paid fairly under the program.
Oz gave a glimpse into how he views Medicaid by saying he supports work requirements, and suggested ObamaCare’s Medicaid expansion has grown the program far beyond its original purpose.
“The rapid expansion of the required expenses of monies for Medicaid is far beyond what was ever envisioned when ACA was originally passed,” he said. “It is one of the ways we can do better.”
In one notable shift, Oz indicated he thinks private Medicare Advantage insurers are being overpaid by the government. The U.S. is “paying more for Medicare Advantage than we’re paying for regular Medicare, so it’s upside down,” Oz said. Previously, Oz had been a champion of Medicare Advantage plans and once advocated for “Medicare Advantage for All,” expanding the program to enroll all Americans who are not on Medicaid. |
Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter, we’re Nathaniel Weixel, Joseph Choi and Alejandra O'Connell-Domenech — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.
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How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond: |
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Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) were blocked Friday from passing a package of health policies, including changes to the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) industry that was left out of December’s government spending bill. Wyden, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, attempted to pass the bipartisan legislation by unanimous consent. It was blocked by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who made no comments … |
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The U.S. has recorded more than 300 cases of measles in just the first three months of this year, according to data published Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the most infections recorded in a single year since 2019. More than 90 percent of those cases are linked to a growing outbreak that began in western Texas and has now spread to New Mexico. The Texas Department of State Health Services … |
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Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey issued cease-and-desist orders against Planned Parenthood facilities in the state to bar them from offering medication abortions even though they do not provide them. “Planned Parenthood has a documented history of subverting state law, including failure to file complication reports,” Bailey said in a press release issued Wednesday. “This cease and desist letter ensures … |
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Health Next Summit | Wednesday, March 26 | 8:15 a.m. - noon ET | Washington, D.C. & streaming nationwide
The first installment of The Hill's Health Next Summit will be held on March 26 as we deliver insights on President Trump's health care policies and agenda. RSVP here. |
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Branch out with a different read: |
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Almost 7 in 10 concerned about measles outbreak: Poll |
More than two-thirds of respondents in a new poll say they are concerned about the measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico. In a Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday, 69 percent of respondents say they are concerned about the outbreak, including 36 percent who say they’re “very” concerned and 33 percent who say they’re “somewhat” concerned. Meanwhile, 15 percent of respondents say they are “not so concerned” and 14 … |
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Local and state headlines on health care: |
- California borrows $3.4 billion for Medicaid overrun as Congress eyes steep cuts (KFF Health News)
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Iowa House lawmakers pass bill requiring most University of Iowa medical, dental college students have Iowa roots (Iowa Capital Dispatch)
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Texas attorney general says trans residents can’t use court orders to change sex on driver’s licenses, birth certificates (The Texas Tribune)
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Health news we've flagged from other outlets: |
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Bird flu kills two house cats in New York City, health officials say (The New York Times)
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COVID made shortages of doctors and nurses even worse. Rural hospitals still struggle (NPR)
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Hale Harvey III, physician who transformed abortion care, dies at 93 (The Washington Post)
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Most read stories on The Hill right now: |
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The Senate on Friday voted to avert a government shutdown, just hours before the midnight deadline. The stopgap funding bill bill, which narrowly passed … Read more
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The Senate voted mostly along party lines Friday afternoon to pass the House Republican-drafted bill to fund government through September, avoiding … Read more |
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Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill: |
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You're all caught up. See you next week! |
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, the former surgeon and television host, was nominated to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
CBS News - 18h
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, President Donald Trump's pick to lead Medicare and Medicaid, sidestepped questions from senators on whether he supports significant Medicaid cuts.
NBC News - 6h
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, the TV celebrity, dodged queries about Republican plans to cut health insurance for the poor, and emerged unscathed on his ties to major industries.
The New York Times - 7h
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The Senate Finance Committee holds a confirmation hearing on Friday for Dr. Mehmet Oz, the TV celebrity who is nominated to run major health programs for older Americans and the poor.
The New York Times - 18h
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, President Trump's nominee to lead the Social Security Administration, testified about his past health advocacy and qualifications during his opening statement at a Senate ...
NBC News - 12h
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, President Donald Trump’s nominee to oversee the Center for Medicare and Medicare Services, may have “significantly” underpaid Medicare and Social Security taxes.
NBC News - 1d
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, will testify before the Senate Finance Committee on Friday morning
ABC News - 23h
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, Trump's pick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, faced tough questions at his confirmation hearing from the Senate Finance Committee.
ABC News - 6h
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Plus, a D.O.J. dust-up over Mel Gibson.
The New York Times - 3d
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President Trump rolled back on Friday over a dozen former executive orders and directives signed by former President Biden focused on gender, labor policies and industry regulations. Trump signed ...
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In the speech, President Trump praised his former defense lawyers, now in senior roles at the Department of Justice, and repeated familiar accusations about the purge of career prosecutors linked ...
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Politico - 5h
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“To beat Trump, we need clarity of purpose, discipline and coordination," one top Democratic strategist said. "It’s clear none of that exists right now.”
Politico - 6h
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, President Donald Trump's pick to lead Medicare and Medicaid, sidestepped questions from senators on whether he supports significant Medicaid cuts.
NBC News - 6h
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