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Investing.com -- The well-known physician and television personality, Mehmet Oz, testified today before the Senate Finance Committee. This took place during his confirmation hearing, where he is being considered for the position of the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
During his testimony, Oz provided an early look at what his agenda could be if he is confirmed to lead the CMS. The agency, which manages $1.7 trillion in federal spending, sets payment rates for doctors, hospitals, and insurers. It also supervises Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Affordable Care Act. Collectively, these programs provide coverage for more than 150 million individuals.
Contrary to some expectations, he did not commit to opposing cuts to Medicaid. Instead, he expressed his support for paying providers adequately to fulfill what is required of them in Medicaid. He also emphasized the importance of having a sufficient number of providers who accept Medicaid in order to deliver services.
Moreover, Oz addressed several other key points during his testimony. He referred to delayed care due to sluggish insurance pre-approvals as a "pox" on the U.S. healthcare system. He also pledged to uphold the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits most federal spending on abortions. Additionally, he expressed his belief that artificial intelligence could play a role in speeding up the health insurance pre-approval process.
Oz also stated he would defend the Medicare drug pricing negotiation program in court. Furthermore, he expressed his support for work requirements for Medicaid. Despite speculation, Oz clarified that he has not been involved with DOGE, a cryptocurrency, and has not had any discussions about it with anyone in the Trump administration.
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