The Senate confirmed to Dr. Mehmet Oz, a celebrity television doctor, as a CMS administrator last week in a 53-45 vote, which was in the lines of the match.
In the position, OZ will lead the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The role enters the paper as the health industry faces many changes. Republicans in Congress currently propose massive budget cuts for the Medicaid program, which could have a significant impact on the economy. The United States Department of Health and Human Services has also recently issued around 10,000 layoffs, which could have a serious effect on public health.
Oz, however, dodged the questions about whether he supports or opposes these Medicaid cuts.
After their confirmation, several medical care leaders shared what medical care problems they expect OZ to address as CMS administrator:
Virtual care
The Alliance for Connected Care, a Telesalud defense organization, published a series of recommendations to advance digital health in a letter sent to OZ. Their recommendations include reducing the load associated with supplier location reports, guaranteeing adequate reimbursement for remote patient monitoring technology and improving the adequacy requirements of the health plans network for virtual care.
The letter also asked CMS and OZ to improve access to Telesalud services in state lines, noting that many older people live in areas with little access to attention in person.
“Greater access to telesalud can be a transformative for thesis communities, but it is hindered by barriers in access to care through state lines. The ability to practice through state lines is crucial for the provision of care in health presses monkeys.
Medicare’s advantage protection
Medicare’s best alliance, a Medicare Advantage defense organization, said Oz’s background as a medical and well -being. Oz has been a great defender of the Medicare Advantage program, who has generated a certain scrutiny of the Democratic members of Congress who question whether to regulate Ma plans. The MA program has faced criticism for excess payments and the inappropriate use of prior authorization.
Medicare’s best alliance, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of protecting the program.
“Today, more than half of Medicine’s beneficiaries choose Medicare’s advantage to obtain better health results and better care,” said Mary Beth Donahue, president and executive director of Better Medicare Alliance, in a statement. “Dr. Oz takes the helm at a fundamental time, since millions of beneficiaries of Medicare Advantage face higher costs and reduced benefits after two consecutive years of cuts to the program. It is essential that the adequacy of Medicare is the attention T.
Food like medicine
Vanessa Rissetto, RD, CEO and co -founder of the Nutrition Company Culina Health, expressed with Conerns that Oz “will give life to life” the efforts of its administration to make budget cuts for government programs, insurance programs, Medicid and Childen’sid.
He pointed out that Culina Health has been able to expand access to nutritional care through associations with insurers and Medicare, and the company is now 70% of the population. However, access to attention could be seen in danger due to these budget cuts.
“My hope is that with all the circulating discussion about the medical care policy, food as medicine will be at the forefront of conversations to improve the poor health of our nation,” he told Medcity News. “If Dr. Oz can prioritize nutrition as a way to optimize the health of Americans today, partly for those who are more full and lack access to healthy foods and nutritional education, this could be a positive result of confirmation.”
Photo: Gustavofazao, Getty Images
