Oz would serve under Robert F Kennedy Jr. — who Trump nominated as secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services — if Oz and Kennedy are confirmed by the Senate or appointed during a Senate recess.
Previously: Trump taps RFK Jr. to run HHS — but two groups could block him
“Oz will be a leader in incentivizing Disease Prevention, so we get the best results in the World for every dollar we spend on Healthcare in our Great Country,” Trump said in a statement posted to social media. “He will also cut waste and fraud within our Country’s most expensive Government Agency, which is a third of our Nation’s Healthcare spend, and a quarter of our entire National Budget.”
Oz was a cardiothoracic surgeon, professor at Columbia University’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and co-inventor of the Abbott MitraClip. But it was in television where he made his fortune — and drew criticism for various controversies.
At CMS, Oz would have responsibility over health care coverage through Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, including oversight of reimbursement payments for medical device developers and manufacturers.
AdvaMed CEO and President Scott Whitaker said Oz “has firsthand experience with medical technology and as a result understands the incredible impact these technologies can have in the lives of patients in need.”
“And as a practitioner, he has also seen firsthand the negative impact a lack of access to these technologies can have on these same patients,” he continued in a statement shared with MassDevice. “When the best medical technology is in the hands of skilled surgeons and doctors, we can help heal the sickest patients, prevent disease progression, and restore the health of the American people. We look forward to working with Dr. Oz to strengthen access to and coverage of the transformative medical technologies, treatments, and diagnostic tests that help Americans in every corner of the country to live longer, healthier lives.”
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