Senate Finance Committee readies vote on Dr. Oz nomination as Democrats warn of Medicaid cuts

The Senate Finance Committee debated the nomination of Dr. Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), with a scheduled committee vote deferred to a time to be announced.

Several Democratic senators said Dr. Oz refused to assure the committee he would protect Medicaid from cuts that they say are likely under Republican budget proposals. "When I asked him a yes or no question about whether he would protect Medicaid, he dodged, he weaved, he simply wouldn't answer," said Ranking Member Wyden. Senators Cantwell, Hassan and others said they would vote against the nomination unless the nominee clearly pledges to oppose cuts.

Why it matters: CMS oversees Medicare, Medicaid and other federal health programs that provide coverage for tens of millions of Americans. Lawmakers said changes to CMS policy or federal funding could affect nursing homes, hospitals and families who rely on Medicaid.

Senator Maria Cantwell, describing constituent testimony she’d heard in Washington state, said a mother worried that cuts would make it impossible to pay for nursing-home care. Cantwell quoted a constituent, Gail Halverson: "Who's going to pay for the nursing home? That's Medicare or Medicaid. So are we just going to be left to die?" Cantwell and other Democrats argued Oz had not committed to protecting Medicaid from reductions that they said would be required to satisfy certain House budget targets.

Senator Maggie Hassan said she found the nominee's remarks disqualifying because, she said, he "refused to commit to following the law in the event that President Trump directs him to do something illegal." Hassan and other Democrats warned that proposed budget savings from the House would fall largely on Medicaid spending and said they feared Oz would implement policies that would reduce coverage.

Committee supporters signaled a different view. The committee chair said he planned to vote in favor of the nomination and emphasized members would be notified later about the timing of the formal vote. The chair's office did not announce a vote during the hearing; the committee recessed and said it would reconvene at a later time to conduct the vote.

Key context and figures cited in debate: Democrats asserted that House Republican budget proposals would require deep Medicaid savings, citing an $880,000,000,000 figure discussed during remarks as the scale of cuts sought by some Republicans. Senators also cited that Medicaid covers millions of children and a substantial share of nursing-home residents and hospital revenue in many states.

No formal vote was taken at the hearing. Committee leaders said members would be notified when the time and location for the roll-call vote are set.

Several senators used the hearing to outline broader policy concerns beyond the nominee's record, including alleged marketing practices in Medicare Advantage that some Democrats described as increasing costs for seniors and taxpayers.

The committee adjourned to a brief recess before beginning a separate nomination hearing later in the day.

Upcoming: The committee said it will announce the time and location of the vote on Dr. Oz's nomination once the schedule is confirmed.