Nurses Urge Senate to Reject Dr. Oz for CMS Director Over Concerns

Nurses Union Urges Senate to Oppose Dr. Oz's CMS Nomination

National Nurses United (NNU), representing the largest group of registered nurses in the United States, has urged the U.S. Senate to oppose Dr. Mehmet Oz's nomination as head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

The CMS is responsible for the healthcare coverage of 68 million Medicare beneficiaries and 79 million Medicaid and CHIP recipients. Nurses emphasize the significance of the leadership role, asserting that Dr. Oz poses a risk to patient safety due to his views on privatizing public healthcare services.

NNU President Nancy Hagans stated, “Vulnerable children and families, pregnant patients, people with disabilities, and our nation’s seniors, who have worked hard and paid into the system all their lives, deserve high-quality care. They won’t get it with Dr. Oz directing CMS.” Hagans further accused Dr. Oz of pursuing the position for personal financial gain.

Critics point to Dr. Oz's support for replacing traditional Medicare with Medicare Advantage plans, which are managed by private insurers. These plans have been criticized for systematically denying necessary care and employing questionable billing practices, which have led to substantial profits for major insurers like UnitedHealth. Dr. Oz has been reported to own over $550,000 in UnitedHealth stock according to reports.

Concerns about Dr. Oz's professional conduct have been raised before, including his endorsement of unproven medical treatments. The American Medical Association previously criticized him for promoting unscientific practices. Additionally, he has faced backlash for recommending hydroxychloroquine as a Covid-19 treatment, despite FDA warnings about its dangers. It's reported that Oz held shares in companies producing the drug.

Dr. Oz's nomination raises concerns about conflict of interest, as he also invests in various pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors. As the CMS director, he would influence critical areas like drug pricing and healthcare coverage, affecting 160 million Americans.

Nurses insist on a candidate committed to scientific integrity and public health advancement. “Our patients are not for sale. The millions of people who rely on CMS services deserve a leader who cares about science and investing in public health, not about unproven, magical cures and lining his own pockets,” stated Hagans.

National Nurses United is the largest U.S. union and professional organization of registered nurses, with 225,000 members nationwide.