Dr. Mehmet Oz, now leading the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), is on a mission to clean up the healthcare system. In an interview on America’s Newsroom with Bill Hemmer, Dr. Oz shared his dedicated focus on tackling fraud, waste, and abuse within Medicare, Medicaid, and health insurance exchanges. “Right now, my main focus, without any question, is to wage a war on fraud, waste, and abuse — because that’s what’s required. All hands on deck,” Dr. Oz emphasized.
Under President Donald Trump’s guidance to “love and cherish Medicare and Medicaid,” Dr. Oz has set up a specialized “war room” at CMS. This team is tasked with identifying and recovering fraudulent payments that have been draining these critical programs. “It’s a massive issue — hundreds of billions of dollars potentially out there,” he explained.
Dr. Oz highlighted that this misuse of funds is a large-scale problem, similar to scandals involving foreign aid. He warned, “If you thought USAID was a problem, some of the issues we are discovering — some of the things CMS has been funding through Medicare, Medicaid, and the exchanges — will bring a little shiver to you.”
As a heart surgeon, Dr. Oz knows firsthand that “the most expensive care is bad care.” This drives his commitment to protecting the vulnerable and ensuring that funds are used responsibly. With a strong focus on accountability, his team is all hands on deck to combat fraud, waste, and abuse.
In just a short time, Dr. Oz’s team has already identified tens of billions in questionable spending. They found $1 billion in Medicare funds paid to individuals fraudulently registered across multiple states and $200 million spent on housekeeping services, which were not within Medicaid’s intended scope.
Other examples include $10 million diverted to student loan repayment programs and $14 million used for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, as well as labor union childcare benefits. Furthermore, 250,000 ineligible individuals were improperly enrolled in the healthcare marketplace.
Dr. Oz stressed that these discoveries are not mere mistakes but the result of deliberate, organized fraud, sometimes linked to foreign adversaries. “The $31 million that I know of last week is a great example,” he said. “We stopped that money — using new technology, modernizing how Medicare and Medicaid work — from even leaving the building because we knew something was fishy about the bills.”
He pointed out, “These aren’t just small mistakes. These are organized criminal efforts to hurt our country, some launched by foreign countries. These are serious issues we are digging into — and that’s why we have this war room.”
Despite these efforts, some Democrats have criticized Dr. Oz and the Trump administration. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer accused them of favoring the “billionaire class” over working Americans, while Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez claimed they are planning cuts to veterans’ benefits and Medicaid services.
Dr. Oz dismissed these allegations, reiterating the administration’s dedication to protecting Medicare and Medicaid. “President Trump has been very clear with me — he said it publicly — he wants to love and cherish, I’m quoting him, Medicare and Medicaid, these programs,” Dr. Oz stated.
He reassured the public that their mission remains focused on supporting poor children, pregnant women, the elderly, and the disabled. “We are focused on saving Medicaid. That’s what we have to do,” Dr. Oz said.
According to Dr. Oz, the real threat is overspending, which could deplete resources meant for the most vulnerable. His early initiatives at CMS indicate a shift towards rooting out fraud and restoring fiscal responsibility.
In this new era at CMS, Dr. Oz is committed to making sure that taxpayer dollars are used wisely to support those who truly need it. His leadership and dedication have set the tone for a more accountable and efficient healthcare system.
These efforts align with the broader conservative principles of fiscal responsibility and protecting taxpayer money. By targeting fraud and waste, Dr. Oz aims to ensure that programs like Medicare and Medicaid are sustainable for future generations.
The focus remains clear: safeguarding the programs that serve the nation’s most vulnerable, while ensuring that funds are not misused or wasted. This approach is not just about saving money but also about maintaining the integrity of America’s healthcare system.
Dr. Oz’s transparency and proactive measures are crucial in building trust with the public and demonstrating a commitment to meaningful reform. His leadership is a breath of fresh air for those concerned about the misuse of government resources.