Dr. Oz's Investments Raise Conflict of Interest Concerns

Dr. Mehmet Oz, the television personality turned politician, has been nominated to head the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). However, his financial investments in companies regulated by or closely tied to the agency raise concerns about potential conflicts of interest.

Dr. Oz's 2022 Senate financial disclosure form reveals investments in health insurance companies like UnitedHealth Group and Cigna, which work with the government to provide insurance under Medicaid or Medicare. He also holds investments in pharmaceutical companies like Johnson&Johnson and Bristol-Meyers Squibb, whose drugs are part of Medicare's negotiations to lower prices.

These investments could pose a conflict of interest if Dr. Oz is confirmed to lead CMS. He would be responsible for making decisions that could impact the profitability of these companies, raising questions about whether he could act impartially.

Previous government agency nominees have divested from companies with ties to the agency they head. For example, several members of the Biden administration agreed to divest individual stock holdings to ensure they could perform their duties conflict-free.

It is unclear if Dr. Oz still holds these investments and whether he would divest from them if confirmed to lead CMS. The Independent has reached out to Dr. Oz for comment.