Dr. Oz bats back Democratic attempts to paint him as a 'snake oil' salesman in Senate hearing
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Oz laid out his plans for the agency, including potential reforms he is considering, during a confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Committee on Finance. The committee will soon vote on whether to advance Oz's nomination to become the next director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to the full Senate.

While Oz's medical expertise was not widely challenged Friday, his motivations were. Dubbed "America's Doctor" by Oprah Winfrey, Oz used his TV platform at times to promote alternative health remedies, endorsing questionable weight loss solutions like green coffee extract and raspberry ketones.



Dr. Mehmet Oz, President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, sits before the Senate Finance Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington Friday.

(AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

 was slammed by his detractors during a Senate confirmation hearing Friday on Capitol Hill for promoting unproven alternative health treatments, and one Democrat called it the "most ludicrous wellness grifting" he'd ever seen.

Oz's financial ties to a litany of companies spanning many corners of the healthcare sector, including nutrition supplements, has been a point of scrutiny for his detractors. In an ethics filing submitted in advance of the hearing, Oz indicated he would divest his holdings in more than 70 companies and investment funds that could pose potential conflicts of interest.

One of those companies is iHerb, an online supplement retailer, which represents one of Oz's largest financial holdings. According to his ethics filing, Oz's holdings in iHerb are worth as much as $25 million.



Dr. Mehmet Oz, President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, right, greets Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., as Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., looks on before Oz testifies at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Oz's claim he wasn't getting paid to promote the products didn't convince Hassan, who pointed out press reports chronicling the "Dr. Oz effect," a phenomenon whereby sales of products he endorsed would skyrocket after being featured on his show.

"That was written about by the press," Oz told Hassan. Hassan then argued Oz seemed "unwilling to take accountability for  promotion of snake oil remedies."



A committee vote to decide whether to send Oz to the  has not yet been scheduled. He will need to garner at least 50 votes in the full Senate to be confirmed.

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