Dr. Oz Grilled on Following President's Orders, Medicaid Cuts, and Supplement Promotions

Nominee Accountability and Legal Directives

• ❓ Dr. Oz was asked by Sen. Maggie Hassan if he would follow a presidential directive to break the law, to which he responded that such a scenario is "absurd" and that the president would never issue such an order.
• ⚠️ Hassan expressed disappointment with this answer, emphasizing the importance of a nominee's commitment to upholding the law.

Medicaid and Republican Budget Plans

• 📉 The Senator highlighted that the Republican budget plan could result in millions losing Medicaid coverage, including up to 30,000 children in New Hampshire.
• 🚫 Dr. Oz stated he had not seen the details of the specific House bill but expressed a desire to prevent children from losing health insurance.
• 🤰 He was pressed on whether he would commit to preventing cuts to Medicaid that would affect maternal healthcare, a critical area covering 40% of U.S. births.
• 🤷 Dr. Oz indicated a need for more knowledge about CMS operations and current funding before committing to specific actions regarding Medicaid cuts.

Senior Services and Digital Access

• 🏛️ The discussion shifted to the closure of a Social Security and Medicare enrollment office in New Hampshire, impacting seniors' ability to receive in-person assistance.
• 🚗 Dr. Oz acknowledged that seniors would be better served by in-person assistance and expressed concern about seniors in rural areas having to travel long distances.
• 💻 He also noted the importance of modernizing Medicare communication through digital means but recognized that not all seniors have reliable internet access, underscoring the need for accessible physical offices.

Past Supplement Promotions

• 📺 Dr. Oz was questioned about promoting supplements like green coffee extract and raspberry ketones for weight loss on his television show, which were later found to be fraudulently marketed.
• ❌ He confirmed that green coffee extract is not a miracle weight loss drug and was pressed on whether he believed raspberry ketones were a "miracle in a bottle."
• 💰 When asked about payment for these promotions, Dr. Oz stated he was paid nothing to promote the supplements, despite the widely reported "Dr. Oz effect" of increased sales after his show.
• 🤔 The Senator expressed concern about Dr. Oz's past promotion of unproven remedies, given his nomination to lead major U.S. health programs.