1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

As your constituent, I am strongly urging you to reject the nomination of Dr. Mehmet Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. For starters, Dr. Oz owns $600,000 worth of stock in two of the largest Medicare Advantage providers (UnitedHealth Group and CVS/Aetna), which severely impacts his ability to be impartial when it comes to implementing policies around Medicare. In addition, the Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Insurance has previously called him to task for his dubious claims about weight-loss drugs and 10 of his own colleagues wrote a letter to Columbia University asking them to cut ties with the doctor because he was misleading and endangering the public due to the questionable medical advice he pushes. Columbia University eventually cut ties with Dr. Oz in 2022. Medicare enrollees are already skipping appointments, not refilling prescriptions, and struggling to pay premiums due to financial hardship. I am deeply concerned about proposals in the new Congress that could take health care away from millions, including deep cuts to Medicaid. These proposed changes could shift costs to states plus make health expenses rise for many of us. We need someone heading the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services who will strengthen both programs, not someone who has a financial incentive to privatize them. Please oppose Dr. Oz’s nomination and speak out publicly about the importance of protecting Medicare and Medicaid.