The Senate Finance Committee voted to advance the nomination of Mehmet Oz, MD, as CMS administrator, according to a March 25 news release from Sen. Mike Crapo’s office.
Four notes:
1. The 14-13 vote sends the nomination to the full Senate, which is largely expected to vote — and confirm him — in the upcoming days or weeks, NPR reported March 25.
2. If confirmed, Dr. Oz would be responsible for overseeing the federal agency that provides healthcare coverage to more than 160 million Americans through Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program and the ACA marketplace.
“Dr. Oz’s years of experience as an acclaimed physician and public health advocate have prepared him well to manage the intricacies of CMS,” Mr. Crapo said in the release. “He will work tirelessly to deliver on the promise of much-needed change at CMS that ensures Americans receive the best care possible.”
3. Dr. Oz’s March 14 Senate Finance Committee nomination hearing largely focused on questions regarding potential Medicaid cuts. He did not directly respond to questions or share his stance, saying in the hearing, “I commit to doing whatever I can, working tirelessly to ensure that CMS provides Americans with superb care. Especially Americans who are most vulnerable. Our young, our disabled and our elderly.”
4. In a March 24 letter, The Leapfrog Group President and CEO Leah Binder applauded Dr. Oz for his statements regarding healthcare transparency. Leapfrog mostly uses CMS patient safety data for its hospital safety grades, Ms. Binder wrote.
The letter outlined suggestions for Dr. Oz to consider while pursuing CMS transparency, including:
- Expand CMS quality reporting on ASCs and outpatient hospital surgery units.
- Report quality and safety of facilities that serve Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, which are currently exempt.
- Support the preservation of the National Healthcare Safety Network, which is part of the CDC and works with state health departments to report patient safety indicators.
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