Dr. Oz warns of Medicare bankruptcy, health crisis in Senate testimony

President Donald Trump’s nominee for Medicare and Medicaid administrator testified Friday before the Senate Finance Committee. Trump nominated the celebrity heart surgeon Muslim for the office weeks after his election in November. Oz, a self-described secular Muslim, began with what he said were a list of grave healthcare realities that must be addressed. Among them: healthcare costs that are growing faster than the U.S. economy, the likelihood that Medicare will be bankrupt within a decade, and a statistic showing that 75% of young people do not meet the physical qualifications for military service. The most expensive healthcare available is low-quality and doesn’t fix the underlying health issues, he said. Leaders now have a generational opportunity to fix the American healthcare system and help people stay healthier, Oz said.

The doctor emphasized a need for greater transparency to beneficiaries attempting to navigate what he described as an overly-complex healthcare system. Such transparency would enable them to know how they can regain control over their healthcare. He advocated for incentivising healthcare providers to prioritize proper care for patients. Doctors save time and make more money by giving patients pills and surgeries instead of advising them on healthier lifestyle habits, Oz explained. He also posed the clerical use of artificial intelligence in healthcare offices to give providers more time to focus on patients. Oz also pushed for modernizing tools to detect waste and fraud within the Medicare and Medicaid system.

What else did Oz share throughout the questioning?

• Oz expressed support for keeping Medicaid’s proof of work requirement but believed it should be expanded. The purpose of the requirement is for beneficiaries to show that they want to contribute to society, so pursuing an education or volunteering should fulfill the work requirement, he said.

• He said he believed the measles vaccine is safe and the most effective way to prevent contracting the illness.

• When directly asked, Oz would commit to a universal opposition to all Medicaid cuts.

Oz must receive a majority vote from both the committee, then the full Senate before he will be officially confirmed.

Dig deeper: Read my report on Oz’s November nomination for more background.