Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said Thursday on Fox’s “Special Report with Bret Baier” that the department’s challenge remains in spending money efficiently to address chronic illnesses in the U.S.
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Trump administration’s agenda to “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) has included efforts to reverse the chronic disease epidemic, with Trump recently nominating Dr. Casey Means for surgeon general. Her background is in using nutrition to prevent chronic disease. Discussing health care in America with department leaders, Fox News’ Bret Baier asked Oz about concerns over Medicaid and Medicare, asking if he could convey a message to people who worry.
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“Our goal is to put health back in health and human services, and under Secretary Kennedy, and that’s why we’re all here. We’re laser-focused on the broader picture, the more holistic picture,” Oz said.
Oz went on to quote former Democrat Vice President Hubert Humphrey, who said that the department’s focus is to care for children, the elderly and those living with illnesses.
“It’s quality of care at all levels, and we’re working together to make sure that happens. In every single scenario that we’re looking at, we’re increasing payment in Medicaid, putting more money into Medicaid,” Oz said.
While Democrats have repeatedly claimed that Republicans are seeking to make significant cuts to Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid, President Donald Trump denied the allegations during a May 1 town hall.
“So the question is, how do you spend that money so efficiently that you stop throwing money at problems, but actually deal with the broader health needs?” Oz asked. “Addressing the fundamental reality that 70% of the money that CMS spends, and that’s what Medicare, Medicaid, the exchanges, CHIP [is]. [A total of ] 70% of the money we spend is on chronic illness, and we’re not getting our money’s worth.”
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In November 2024, Trump tapped Oz to lead CMS, citing his health care background and alignment with Kennedy’s MAHA movement. The CMS administrator has been a staunch opponent of major corporations, including Big Pharma, but he has faced questions over his opposition to big government due to past ties to major technology and pharmaceutical companies.
“So for folks listening right now, it’s your patriotic duty to be as healthy as you can, and it’s our job to help you get there, make it easy to do the right things. At the same time, we’ve got to make wise decisions, because we’re stewards who have to protect the money for the population that Hubert Humphrey described,” Oz said.
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Since Kennedy’s endorsement of Trump during his campaign, the MAHA movement has advocated for a healthier America, with the HHS secretary recently directing the FDA to end the practice of allowing corporations to label their own food ingredients as safe. HHS is also now seeking to restrict the use of food stamps to purchase sodas and other forms of “junk food.”
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First published by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
