Joco Today

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, representing Kansas, has expressed his support for Dr. Mehmet Oz, nominated by President Donald Trump to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). In an opinion piece published in The Daily Signal, Senator Marshall highlighted the challenges facing Medicare and Medicaid and voiced confidence in Dr. Oz's ability to address them.

Marshall emphasized the urgency of reforming Medicare, stating, "On its current course, Medicare, the government-run health insurance program for seniors, will fall off a financial cliff in as little as a decade – maybe even sooner." He also pointed out the pressure placed on state and federal budgets by Medicaid, which now exceeds Medicare in the number of people it covers. According to Marshall, Medicaid spending has increased by 50% over the past five years, a trend he views as unsustainable.

The op-ed stressed the need for leadership at CMS that can "rescue Medicare and fortify Medicaid." Marshall described the ideal administrator as someone with "a fresh perspective" who understands the interplay between patients, doctors, and hospitals. Additionally, he noted the importance of effective communication skills and the capacity to manage the agency's sprawling $2 trillion budget, which impacts the health of 140 million Americans and represents a significant portion of federal expenditure.

Senator Marshall concluded by endorsing Dr. Oz for the role, stating, "Thankfully, we have just the person for the job: Dr. Mehmet Oz."

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