Dr. Oz goes to Washington

Summary

Post Reports: "Dr. Oz Goes to Washington" – Detailed Summary

Episode Title: Dr. Oz Goes to Washington
Release Date: March 13, 2025
Hosts: Martine Powers and Elahe Izadi
Guest: Lauren Weber, National Health Reporter for The Washington Post
Date Recorded: Thursday, March 13th

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Introduction to Dr. Mehmet Oz

The episode opens with Colby Ekowitz recounting his first encounter with Dr. Mehmet Oz during Oz’s appearances on the Oprah Winfrey Show in the mid-2000s.

[00:25] Dr. Mehmet Oz: "Today, Dr. Oz is here to help us get healthy and literally peel off the years with the ultimate the mack daddy of anti-Aging checklists. Dr. Oz, my mack daddy."

Dr. Oz transitioned from a successful cardiothoracic surgeon and Columbia University professor to a prominent television personality. He built a healthcare empire worth tens of millions by promoting various diets, supplements, and health regimens aimed at rapid health improvements.

[00:38] Colby Ekowitz: "Oz was a successful heart surgeon who became a television lifestyle guru with a healthcare empire worth tens of millions of dollars."

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Dr. Oz’s Media Influence and Controversies

Dr. Oz’s rise to fame was significantly boosted by his collaboration with Oprah Winfrey. His daytime show, which began in 2009, ran for 13 seasons and became a platform for promoting health supplements and weight loss products. Critics often targeted his promotions for lacking scientific backing, coining the term "Oz effect" to describe the surge in product sales following his endorsements.

[04:05] Oprah Winfrey: "Today on the Dr. Oz show, bust your fat forever. Five newest, fastest fat busters. In many ways, it's the holy grail."

Lauren Weber discusses the backlash from public health experts and fellow physicians who criticized Oz for endorsing unproven medical treatments.

[04:14] Lauren Weber: "They complained that a lot of what he was promoting was unproven, that he was pushing supplements and cures for weight loss and other issues that didn't have the science to back up some of the claims he, as a physician, was making."

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Nomination to Lead CMS

The core of the episode revolves around Dr. Oz’s nomination by President Donald Trump to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the federal agency responsible for Medicare and Medicaid programs covering over 100 million Americans.

[01:42] Colby Ekowitz: "President Donald Trump has chosen him to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, also known as CMS... If confirmed, Oz would be in charge of programs that cover over 100 million Americans."

Weber elaborates on the significance of this role, especially amid potential federal budget cuts and the ongoing debates over healthcare policy.

[08:56] Lauren Weber: "Oz would be overseeing the health insurance coverage for nearly 40% of all Americans between these two programs. With a budget of over a trillion dollars annually, that involves... many parts of American health care that touch many, many, many Americans lives."

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Conflicts of Interest and Ethical Concerns

The episode delves into the potential conflicts of interest surrounding Dr. Oz’s business ventures and his promotion of health products. Notably, his promotion of supplements like those sold by iHerb raised red flags about his financial disclosures and investments.

[15:18] Lauren Weber: "Oz promoted the supplement for stress, which is sold by the company iHerb. A watchdog group reported that Oz was not properly disclosing how he was invested in this company as he was promoting it."

Additionally, Dr. Oz’s endorsement of the weight loss drug Ozempic, initially marketed for diabetes, underscores the intertwining of his commercial interests with his public health endorsements.

[16:03] Lauren Weber: "He extolled Ozempic... that infomercial was sponsored by the drug's manufacturer, who Oz referred to as a trusted partner."

Weber points out that Oz has pledged to divest from certain holdings to mitigate these conflicts, yet skepticism remains regarding his impartiality.

[16:24] Lauren Weber: "Oz has promised to give up those stocks if confirmed... There's a lot of conversation right now in general over the benefits of Medicare Advantage versus traditional Medicare."

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Political Reactions and Confirmation Prospects

The nomination has elicited mixed reactions along partisan lines. Republicans praise Oz’s medical and business credentials, viewing him as a capable leader for CMS. Conversely, Democrats criticize his suitability, citing unproven health claims and potential financial conflicts.

[14:29] Lauren Weber: "Republicans were excited. They said... Democrats were mad, they felt like he was unqualified, they pointed to a lot of potential conflicts of interest he has with many of his health care businesses and investments and positions."

Despite these controversies, experts anticipate a smooth confirmation process for Oz, aligning with President Trump’s track record of successfully nominating candidates.

[19:12] Lauren Weber: "It's pretty widely expected that Oz will be confirmed without much pushback. But I'm curious to see what Dems will ask him about."

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Dr. Oz’s Vision for CMS

Dr. Oz envisions a shift towards privatizing Medicare by expanding Medicare Advantage, which leverages private insurers to provide Medicare benefits. This aligns with conservative goals but raises concerns about increased costs and access to care.

[17:44] Lauren Weber: "Oz has pushed to privatize Medicare. He wants to expand Medicare Advantage... Conservatives have championed the expansion of Medicare Advantage. They say it offers more benefits. But Democrats and patient advocates often argue that private insurers are excessively billing the federal government while also denying treatment to patients."

Oz's financial disclosures revealed significant holdings in companies like UnitedHealth Group, fueling apprehensions that his policy decisions could directly benefit his investments, although he has promised to divest these holdings upon confirmation.

[19:00] Lauren Weber: "Conservatives have championed the expansion of Medicare Advantage... Oz owned up to potentially $600,000 in UnitedHealth Group stocks. He has promised to give up those stocks if confirmed."

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Upcoming Confirmation Hearing

As the confirmation hearing approaches, the episode highlights key areas of focus for the Senate, including Oz’s financial transparency, his stance on Medicare policies, and his track record with health claims.

[19:12] Lauren Weber: "I think a large amount of the questions could focus on Oz's finances, on his connections with Medicare Advantage, on some of these claims around unproven supplements and what he did to promote them."

The hosts and guest express curiosity about the extent of opposition Oz might face and the specific inquiries senators will pose regarding his past actions and future plans.

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Conclusion

"Dr. Oz Goes to Washington" offers an in-depth examination of Dr. Mehmet Oz’s transition from a media personality to a potential leader of one of America’s most significant health agencies. Through expert analysis and detailed reporting, the episode delves into the complexities of Oz’s career, his controversial health endorsements, and the political ramifications of his nomination. As the confirmation hearing looms, the spotlight remains on how Oz will navigate his new role amidst scrutiny over his past and the future of Medicare and Medicaid programs.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Dr. Mehmet Oz [00:25]: "Today, Dr. Oz is here to help us get healthy and literally peel off the years with the ultimate the mack daddy of anti-Aging checklists."

• Oprah Winfrey [00:38]: "It's a lot of information."

• Lauren Weber [04:14]: "They complained that a lot of what he was promoting was unproven..."

• Claire McCaskill [05:31]: "Why would you say that something is a miracle in a bottle?"

• Lauren Weber [08:56]: "Oz would be overseeing the health insurance coverage for nearly 40% of all Americans..."

• Lauren Weber [15:18]: "Oz was not properly disclosing how he was invested in this company as he was promoting it."

• Lauren Weber [17:44]: "Oz has pushed to privatize Medicare. He wants to expand Medicare Advantage..."

• Lauren Weber [19:12]: "It's pretty widely expected that Oz will be confirmed without much pushback."

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the "Dr. Oz Goes to Washington" episode of Post Reports, providing listeners with a clear understanding of the topics covered, the critical perspectives presented, and the overarching narrative surrounding Dr. Oz's nomination to CMS.

Transcript

[Colby Ekowitz]

I first heard about Dr. Mehmet Oz the way a lot of people did when he first started appearing on the Oprah Winfrey show in the mid 2000s.

[Dr. Mehmet Oz]

Today, Dr. Oz is here to help us get healthy and literally peel off the years with the ultimate the mack daddy of anti Aging checklists. Dr. Oz, my mack daddy.

[Oprah Winfrey]

We got a lot of goodies.

[Colby Ekowitz]

Oz was a successful heart surgeon who became a television lifestyle guru with a healthcare empire worth 10 billion doll, tens of millions of dollars.

[Oprah Winfrey]

I'm telling everybody right now, get out your pencils and paper. It's a lot of information.

[Colby Ekowitz]

On Oprah and then on his own show, the Dr. Oz show, he promoted various diets, supplements and regiments that he said would make people healthier fast.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Today, big news. I'm announcing my biggest weight loss program to date. It's been a year in the making, the total 10 rapid weight loss plan, and we can rev up your metabolism forever. All I'm asking for is one week. It's my seven day miracle plan to boost your metabolism. Today is all about miracles, revolutionary items big and small that could change your life.

[Lauren Weber]

His claims on that show, including the segments on possible weight loss regimens and dietary supplements, were frequently panned by public health experts and fellow physicians.

[Colby Ekowitz]

Lauren Weber is a national health reporter for the Post.

[Lauren Weber]

So what does it mean to have someone who for years has profited from pushing these unproven medical treatments now run two of the largest health insurance programs in the United States?

[Colby Ekowitz]

Lauren is referring to Dr. Oz's latest career pivot. President Donald Trump has chosen him to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, also known as cms. It's the agency that runs Medicare and Medicaid, the federal programs that provide health insurance for seniors and people from low income backgrounds. Oz's confirmation hearing in the Senate is scheduled for Friday. And if confirmed, Oz would be in charge of programs that cover over 100 million Americans.

[Lauren Weber]

Oz will be taking over two programs that are potentially facing massive cuts in the cuts to federal spending. And he's doing so with a background of, you know, unproven health claims. He for years has blended the boundaries, critics say, between science and what's proven and what he's promoting. And it remains to be seen, obviously, how that will play out as he takes over leading 2 of the health care programs that millions of Americans rely on.

[Colby Ekowitz]

From the newsroom of the Washington Post, this this is Post Reports. I'm Colby IKOWICZ. It's Thursday, March 13th. Today, ahead of his confirmation hearing, we look into Dr. Oz. Dr. TV personality, businessman and politician. We talk with Lauren about why Donald Trump nominated Oz, how Oz might approach his work at the agency, and how he is working to divest himself from a web of possible conflicts of interest. So, Lauren, for people who didn't watch Dr. Oz on the Oprah show or on his show, who is he? Who is Dr. Oz?

[Lauren Weber]

So Dr. Mehmet Oz is 64 years old. He's a Turkish American who was raised in Delaware and got his start as a very, very, very, very successful cardiothoracic surgeon. He was a professor at Columbia in New York. And then he kind of makes this shift in into TV really. Supercharged by Oprah.

[Dr. Mehmet Oz]

Dr. Mehmet Oz is back. And he claims this is what he says he has the real weapon against fat. Don't we want to know what that is?

[Lauren Weber]

And ends up starring in his own daytime TV show in 2009 that syndicated through Sony Pictures Television and ran for 13 seasons.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Today on the Dr. Oz show, bust your fat forever. Five newest, fastest fat busters. In many ways, it's the holy grail.

[Lauren Weber]

And that's where some health critics started to have an issue with Dr. Oz. They complained that a lot of what he was promoting was unproven, that he was pushing supplements and cures for weight loss and other issues that didn't have the science to really back up some of the claims he, as a physician, was making. And there's literally papers written about the quote, unquote, Oz effect, which is what happens when he would promote a product on a show. Usually sales would go up, news articles would be written about it, hype around that product would continue. And I mean, really, Dr. Oz is fascinating because he rose to prominence before social media as we know it. But there is a version where he's kind of like a wellness influencer before social media took off. I mean, he was hauled in front of Congress in a pretty aggressive hearing in 2014.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Thank you, members of the committee, for convening this session, this hearing, and for allowing me to testify because consumer scams and fraud related to weight loss products have placed.

[Lauren Weber]

So this was a hearing looking at some of Oz's advertising, including some of it that was about weight loss products. And during this hearing, Oz had a pretty heated back and forth with former Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill, who's a Democrat.

[Claire McCaskill]

Why would you say that something is a miracle in a bottle?

[Oprah Winfrey]

My job, I feel, on the show is to be a cheerleader for the audience. And when they don't think, they have hope. When they don't think they have, you.

[Lauren Weber]

Know, McCaskill said, you know, she was someone who'd struggle with weight gain her entire life, and that people like Oz that promised these miracle cures really preyed upon people like herself that were struggling with their weight.

[Claire McCaskill]

The passion in connection with the word miracle pill and weight loss is a recipe for disaster in this environment in terms of the people who are looking for an easy fix.

[Lauren Weber]

Around that time, he apologized. He promised to cut back on his show on overstating medical promises. He even went on to say that his TV show was, quote, not a medical show. He also made a point of saying that he was trying to work on things that he would say to his family members. He was trying to appeal in his own Ozzie and kind of way to the audience and at home. And it's a fascinating endeavor, and it's quite fascinating to realize that now, a little over a decade later, he could be confirmed at the Senate that once confronted him.

[Colby Ekowitz]

And after that hearing, did he continue to promote, like, these alternative treatments on his show?

[Lauren Weber]

He initially vowed to kind of cut back on some of that, to say he was gonna substantiate it with more science. But critics say that after a couple years went by, that promise did not hold. And eventually, you know, he stopped his show when he started running for Senate in 2022 in Pennsylvania.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Pennsylvania needs a conservative who will put America first, one who can reignite our divine spark, bravely fight for freedom and tell it like it is. That's why I'm running for Senate.

[Colby Ekowitz]

Yeah, Lauren, it's funny. I actually helped cover his campaign for the Senate for the Post. I went to a bunch of his rallies in Pennsylvania, and I am remembering now, he had such a big TV personality at the rallies, but he was very much viewed as an outsider in the state.

[Lauren Weber]

Yeah, Donald Trump even endorsed him. But Oz ended up losing. Fast forward to today, and he's moved his TV personality online and gotten even deeper into the supplement space.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Dementia touches every family, including mine.

[Lauren Weber]

So one thing that really stood out to myself and my colleagues when reviewing his social media was in 2024, he promoted a supplement that he said his mother used to fight off dementia, which is a very personal example.

[Oprah Winfrey]

They come from fish oil, or you can get it from algal oil supplements as well. Now that my friends is using and protecting your brain.

[Colby Ekowitz]

How has he responded to criticisms that he has been, like, hawking these unscientific treatments?

[Lauren Weber]

So his previous responses to us, you know, did not really directly address criticism that he promoted products that were not scientifically proven to work. A past spokesman told us that, quote, as a world renowned cardiothoracic surgeon who led the Heart Institute in New York Presbyterian Medical Center, Dr. Mehmet Oz is eminently qualified to help make America healthy again. Dr. Oz's knowledge and success in healthcare innovation and communications will be an invaluable asset to the American people and the Trump Vance administration. And he appreciates the opportunity President Trump has given him to lead cms.

[Colby Ekowitz]

Let's back up and talk about the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for a second. What is this agency and kind of what's at stake here? What exactly would Oz be responsible for if he is confirmed to run this agency?

[Lauren Weber]

Dr. Oz has been tapped to run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which is also known as cms. So this health agency covers health care for millions of people. You know, Medicare obviously is the federal health insurance program for Americans who are 65 and up. And then Medicaid is a federal state health insurance program that covers folks from lower income backgrounds. And you know, Oz would be overseeing the health insurance coverage for nearly 40% of all Americans between these two programs. With a budget of over a trillion dollars annually, that involves really digging into the regulations, whether that be around the Affordable Care act or regulating the Children's Health Insurance Program. It involves a lot of complicated health insurance and pieces of American health care that touch many, many, many Americans lives. It's a major responsibility. And it's honestly especially in this era that we're seeing where Republicans, Donald Trump and the Doge efforts led by Elon Musk are looking to cut funds. Medicaid and Medicare could, part of their services could be on the chopping block. Cuz that's a ton of the federal budget that they make up.

[Colby Ekowitz]

I mean, I thought about this when he was running for the Senate. Like this is a man who has a successful television show, he's a celebrity, he's very wealthy. Like why would he want this position? Like why would he want to do this job which is gonna be a pretty hard job?

[Lauren Weber]

That's a great question. I mean, Oz's financial ethics disclosures show that he's worth most likely in the hundreds of millions of dol with him and his wife's assets coming in somewhere between 95 million and 340 million. I know a lot of people that if they had that much money would probably not want to spend their time dealing with a massive sprawling bureaucracy. But this is something that Oz has said he's been honored to be chosen for and is excited to do if confirmed.

[Colby Ekowitz]

After the break, untangling Dr. Oz's possible conflicts of interest. We'll be right back.

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[Colby Ekowitz]

Why do you think Trump has picked Dr. Oz to run this massive agency?

[Lauren Weber]

Well, I mean look, I mean it's no secret that Donald Trump likes people that have been on TV. Dr. Oz literally had a TV show, so that helps a lot. But as many of his proponents say, Dr. Oz has an MBA and is a physician, so he has some management experience in that regard. A lot of the folks that are for him say, and Trump himself said that Dr. Oz will be, quote, a leader in incentivizing disease prevention. And previously, Trump had appointed Oz to the President's Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition.

[Colby Ekowitz]

I also remember when Trump was running for president in 2016, the first time he actually went on Dr. Oz's show and they talked about Trump's health. I think it was at a time that Trump wasn't going to release his full medical records.

[Oprah Winfrey]

If a patient of mine had these records, I'd be really happy and I'd send them on their way.

[Lauren Weber]

That's good.

[Oprah Winfrey]

I must say I would have shared this earlier. Why didn't you?

[Lauren Weber]

I didn't think it was necessary.

[Colby Ekowitz]

So they have a relationship that dates back, like, many years. So maybe it's not that surprising that he would then choose him to run this agency. But what was, like, the outside reaction to this nomination?

[Lauren Weber]

I mean, Republicans were excited. They said, look, he's got a medical and business degree from Penn. He was a professor at Columbia. He knows health care. We've seen him on our TV talk about health care for years. Whereas Democrats were mad, they felt like he was unqualified, they pointed to a lot of potential conflicts of interest he has with many of his health care businesses and investments and positions.

[Oprah Winfrey]

We need an Alphabet soup of 13 vitamins. Got a through E and then vitamin K. They power our organization.

[Lauren Weber]

So there's this fascinating example that right after Oz was nominated, it was right around Thanksgiving time, he hopped on his social media channels, TikTok, Instagram, and promoted the supplement for stress, which is sold by the company iHerb.

[Oprah Winfrey]

So splitting the dose ensures there's a steady supply of these nutrients in your body all day long.

[Lauren Weber]

What's interesting about IHERB is that a watchdog group came out with a letter saying that Oz was not properly disclosing how he was invested in this company as he was promoting it. You know, since this time he had disclosed to the Office of Government Ethics that he's planning on divesting from some of his positions in companies like iherb, as well as giving up different standings. But the episode speaks to how Oz operates in this really interesting influencer healthcare economy.

[Colby Ekowitz]

Are there any other examples of potential conflicts of interest?

[Lauren Weber]

Yeah. My colleague Desmond Butler and Caitlin Gilbert and I uncovered that Oz had also extolled ozempic and still is extolling as of today on his website, ozempic.

[Colby Ekowitz]

And remind us what OZEMPIC is. I think a lot of People know, but for those who don't, yeah, it's.

[Lauren Weber]

A weight loss drug, but back in 2019, it was being marketed as a diabetes drug.

[Oprah Winfrey]

He's opening up about his type 2 diabetes diagnosis here. On behalf of my trusted partner, Novo Nordisk, please welcome Billy Gardell.

[Lauren Weber]

The comedian Billy Gardell also had shed 21 pounds on after five months on the medication. So Oz, when he was kind of promoting this as a bit of an infomercial embedded in his daytime talk show, you know, that. That raised some questions among some of the experts that my colleagues and I spoke to, because that infomercial was sponsored by the drug's manufacturer, who Oz referred to as a trusted partner. That's one of the earliest instances of him promoting this weight loss drug, which kind of showcases the financial ties between him and the companies whose fortunes he would have a hand in as CMS head. So Novo Nordisk told us that while the company worked with Oz's show to sponsor the paid advertising segment with Gardelle in 2019, it does not have an ongoing relationship with Oz.

[Colby Ekowitz]

Yeah, it made me wonder, does Medicare and Medicaid cover ozempic?

[Lauren Weber]

So Medicaid and Medicare currently cover some weight loss drugs in limited instances, but they have not expanded the use of those weight loss drugs because it would be really, really, really expensive.

[Colby Ekowitz]

What else do we know about Oz's, like, general stance on Medicare and how he might run that program?

[Lauren Weber]

So Oz has pushed to privatize Medicare. He wants to expand Medicare Advantage, which is an offshoot of traditional Medicare that allows older Americans to enroll in health plans that are provided by private health insurers. About 33 million Americans are currently covered under Medicare Advantage, which is slightly more than the number covered by traditional Medicare. But what critics, and many demonstrated Democrats have said about this is a problem, is that Oz at the time, and as his financial disclosures recently revealed, owned up to potentially $600,000 in UnitedHealth Group stocks. And UnitedHealth Group obviously owns UnitedHealthcare. And so their concern and their complaint is that he would benefit at the time from the further growth of Medicare Advantage. Now, Oz has promised to give up those stocks if confirmed. And, you know, there's a lot of conversation right now in general over the benefits of Medicare Advantage versus traditional Medicare. So conservatives have championed the expansion of Medicare Advantage. They say it offers more benefits. But Democrats and patient advocates often argue that private insurers are excessively billing the federal government while also denying treatment to patients.

[Colby Ekowitz]

So now, Lauren, knowing all of this, what are you going to be looking for on Friday, when Oz has his confirmation hearing in the Senate, what will you be watching for in the senator's questions and also in Oz's answers?

[Lauren Weber]

So I'll be curious to see actually how much pushback there is. I mean, as we've watched over the last couple months, as Trump's nominees have gone before the Senate, all the ones that have gone before the Senate have been confirmed. The two that have not had their nominations withdrawn before they made it to their Senate hearing. And that was Matt Gaetz, Trump's pick for attorney general. And just, you know, today Dave Weldon, who was Trump's nominee to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But other than that, it's been mostly smooth sailing for Trump nominees. So it's pretty widely expected that Oz will be confirmed without much pushback. But I'm curious to see what Dems will ask him about. I think a large amount of the questions could focus on Oz's finances, on his connections with Medicare Advantage, on some of these claims around unproven supplements and what he did to promote them. But it all remains to be seen tomorrow.

[Colby Ekowitz]

Lauren, thank you so much.

[Lauren Weber]

Thank you so much for having me.

[Colby Ekowitz]

Lauren Weber is a national health reporter for the Post. That's it for Post Reports. Thanks for listening. Today's show was produced by Ilana Gordon. It was mixed by Sam Baer and edited by Peter Bresnan with help from Maggie Penman. Thanks to Lynn Bouie, Drea Cornejo and Caitlin Gilbert. I'm Colby Ekowitz. We'll be back tomorrow with more stories from the Washington Post.

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