In an unexpected nod, Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman has commended Dr. Mehmet Oz, his former political rival and current Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), for his diligent efforts in combating fraud.
During a conversation with CBS News correspondent Major Garrett, Fetterman was asked about Oz’s performance in his CMS role. He responded positively, noting, “Yeah, what we’re discovering is that there’s a lot of fraud in Medicaid, and rooting that out is absolutely necessary!”
Fetterman elaborated on his stance by drawing a parallel to immigration, emphasizing, “Just like we need to remove criminals from our immigration system, we need to eliminate fraud from Medicaid. I’m a strong supporter of Medicaid, but tackling fraud is crucial, and it seems that’s Oz’s current focus. If he continues this path, I support it wholeheartedly.”
The rivalry between Fetterman and Oz was a focal point of the 2022 Senate elections in Pennsylvania, which was marked by intense scrutiny and high stakes. Fetterman’s campaign resonated with a populist, working-class narrative, often portraying Oz as an outsider disconnected from the state’s realities.
Despite facing significant challenges, including recovering from a stroke during the campaign, Fetterman emerged victorious in the 2022 Senate race. His win was pivotal in maintaining the Democratic Party’s control over the Senate that year.
During the 2022 Senate campaign against Oz, Fetterman overcame a stroke to win the race, helping Democrats hold the Senate majority that year.
New York state’s Medicaid program is being thoroughly examined by CMS, with Oz claiming there is evidence of widespread fraud.
In a letter to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul earlier this month, Oz asked state officials 50 questions about the program and gave Hochul and her team 30 days to get the requested information to the Trump administration.
A spokesperson for Hochul told Fox News Digital that she was leading efforts to get rid of waste, fraud and abuse in Medicaid before President Donald Trump’s return to the White House. The spokesperson also said that Hochul’s office would work with the administration to “identify bad actors.” However, the spokesperson also classified CMS’s probe as politically motivated.
“Well before the Trump administration even took office, Governor Hochul was leading efforts to root out waste, fraud and abuse — including sweeping CDPAP reforms that shut down hundreds of wasteful Medicaid middlemen and saved over $2 billion for state and federal taxpayers while protecting home care for those who need it,” the spokesperson said.
“But let’s be clear about the real goal for Donald Trump and Washington Republicans: eliminating programs that support our most vulnerable and ripping away healthcare from everyday New Yorkers,” the spokesperson added.
Fox News’ Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.
