(NewsNation) — The newly confirmed administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said Monday that President Donald Trump has repeatedly instructed him to “love and cherish” vital health programs while aggressively targeting waste and fraud.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, in an interview on NewsNation’s “CUOMO,” pushed back against claims that the administration plans to cut Medicare and Medicaid services in upcoming budget negotiations.
“The president has said to me repeatedly and publicly that he wants to love and cherish these vital programs,” Oz said. “We must make these programs strong. This is not about politics, this is about patriotism.”
Medicaid cuts may unduly impact Black, Latino doctors, patients
Oz, who was sworn in recently as CMS administrator, said the agency has identified billions in potential savings from eliminating fraud and misaligned state incentives.
“We spent $200 million in the last term of CMS last year on housekeeping services, $10 million on public unions, child care services, another $10 million on student loans,” Oz said. “These aren’t related to taking care of our most vulnerable.”
The former television personality described his new role as “the best job I’ve ever had” despite a steep learning curve, and praised Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for fostering collaboration between federal health agencies.
