Dr. Oz Confirmed as CMS Administrator

On Thursday, April 3, the Senate voted to confirm Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD MBA as the Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). He was approved by a vote of 53-45. 

At CMS, Oz will be responsible for the oversight of Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the exchanges set up by the Affordable Care Act. CMS has sweeping responsibilities within US health care and on issues that affect anesthesiologists, anesthesia groups, and the facilities where ASA members work. ASA has long advocated for increased anesthesia Medicare payments, protection from overly burdensome requirements in the Quality Payment Program, and appropriate attribution of anesthesiologists in payment models. 

Dr. Oz obtained his medical and business degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed residency at Presbyterian Hospital in Cardiothoracic Surgery and became a professor at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. He is perhaps best known for his TV program “The Dr. Oz Show,” on which he provided heath recommendations.  

ASA congratulates Dr. Oz and looks forward to working with him to ensure quality care for all patients.