Dr. Jeffrey Singer Statement on Nomination of Dr. Mehmet Oz for Director of CMS

In a new statement, Dr. Jeffrey Singer, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and a general surgeon for more than 35 years, has shared his thoughts about the recent nomination of Dr. Oz for Director of CMS

I am uncertain about Dr. Oz’s familiarity with health care financing and economics. As a successful cardiothoracic surgeon and entrepreneur, he may, like many in the medical profession, prioritize increasing Medicare and Medicaid subsidies for providers. More concerning is his recent support for “Medicare Advantage For All,” outlined in a 2020 Forbes article. This proposal is akin to “Medicare For All” that Senator Bernie Sanders and Vice President Kamala Harris have promoted—only it subsidizes private HMOs as intermediaries and relies on a 20 percent payroll tax, which may be insufficient given Medicare Advantage’s higher per-beneficiary cost compared to traditional Medicare. With Medicare projected to go broke by 2036 and entitlement programs already consuming over half of federal spending in 2023, Dr. Oz’s approach could exacerbate fiscal challenges—particularly given President-elect Trump’s pledge to leave entitlements untouched.

If you would like to speak to Dr. Singer about this topic, or any other health related cabinet nominations, please do not hesitate to reach out.