A top official from the Trump administration is pushing back against claims from Senate Democrats that proposed changes to Medicaid will harm the program. Dr. Mehmet Oz, the new Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, argues that the GOP’s plan will actually help rural hospitals rather than hurt them.
Oz made these comments during an interview on Fox News, where he described the ongoing debate around healthcare reform. He accused special interest groups of spreading misleading information to derail what he calls the most ambitious healthcare reforms to date.
Senate Republicans, led by Majority Leader John Thune, are racing to finalize their healthcare bill, which aims to address waste and fraud in Medicaid. The bill includes work requirements and seeks to remove illegal immigrants from the program. However, some changes, particularly to the Medicaid provider tax rate, have sparked concern among lawmakers from both parties.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats have warned that these changes could negatively impact over 300 rural hospitals. They argue that if the bill passes as it stands, it could lead to millions losing their healthcare coverage. Schumer even cited a study that suggests rural hospitals would struggle to get paid for services they must provide by law.
Despite the pushback, Oz maintains that the bill is designed to target abuses that benefit large hospitals with powerful lobbyists. He stated that only a small percentage of Medicaid spending occurs in rural areas and emphasized the need for reforms that prioritize advanced technology and infrastructure improvements.
The debate continues as Republicans face pressure to meet a self-imposed deadline for the bill. Oz’s comments reflect a broader strategy to reassure both lawmakers and the public that the proposed changes will not jeopardize healthcare access for vulnerable populations, especially in rural communities.
As the Senate works to finalize the legislation, concerns remain about how the changes will affect Medicaid recipients and healthcare providers across the country.