Hawley Grills Dr. Oz on Transgender Issues, Abortion Ahead of CMS Confirmation Vote
Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, has voiced strong skepticism regarding Dr. Mehmet Oz’s views on critical healthcare issues, particularly concerning transgender procedures for minors and abortion. As Dr. Oz navigates the confirmation process to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Hawley has released a detailed series of questions, signaling a rigorous examination of the nominee’s stance on policies central to the Trump agenda.
Hawley’s concerns stem from Dr. Oz’s past pronouncements, particularly those made during his tenure as a television personality. The senator highlighted instances where Dr. Oz appeared to support transgender surgeries for minors, hormone treatments, and puberty blockers for children. Furthermore, Hawley pointed to Dr. Oz’s past criticisms of state laws designed to protect unborn life.
"I’ve been reading up on Dr. Oz – I see he’s praised trans surgeries for minors and supported hormone treatments & puberty blockers for kids in the past," Hawley stated on X. "And has also criticized state laws protecting life. I hope he’s changed his views to match President Trump! We need the Trump agenda at CMS."
The series of written questions posed by Hawley to Dr. Oz directly confront these past statements, probing whether the nominee’s views have evolved since his time on television. Hawley referenced instances where Dr. Oz’s show featured transgender advocates, surgeons performing transgender surgery, and even children discussing gender transitioning, with parents being praised for assisting their children in this process.
One of the most direct questions posed by Hawley, released through his press office, asks, "Do you support President Trump’s position that gender transition procedures for minors should be banned?" This question underscores the senator’s focus on aligning the future CMS leadership with the policies of the previous administration.
Further emphasizing this point, Hawley also inquired about Dr. Oz’s stance on President Trump’s executive order barring biological males from participating in women’s sports. He then delved into the role of CMS itself, questioning, "Do you believe that CMS has a role in promoting or supporting gender transition surgery in any way?"
Hawley’s concerns extend to the possibility of CMS policy being used to advance gender-affirming care. He asked Dr. Oz if he would commit to never issuing a National Coverage Determination at CMS for "gender reassignment surgery" or equivalent procedures, including hormone and puberty blockers, aligning with Trump’s policies. The senator also sought assurance that Dr. Oz would support Trump’s efforts to halt federal funding to hospitals that provide so-called "gender-affirming care" to minors.
A key point of contention raised by Hawley revolves around Dr. Oz’s past statements on puberty blockers. The senator noted that Dr. Oz had previously expressed a reluctance to "interfere" with doctors prescribing these medications to minor children, and he directly questioned whether that remained Dr. Oz’s current position.
The issue of abortion also features prominently in Hawley’s line of questioning. He directly asked Dr. Oz, "Do you believe the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade, which every Justice appointed by President Trump supported, was correctly decided?"
Hawley further highlighted Dr. Oz’s 2019 opposition to state limitations on abortion related to fetal heartbeat, where he described it as "little electrical exchanges in the cell that no one would hear or think about as a heart." The senator questioned whether Dr. Oz’s position had changed since then, and he also raised concerns about corporate influence on CMS decisions.
"In 2019, Oz predicted a state would face a ‘big sucking sound of business leaving’ over its pro-life law," Hawley noted, asking whether Dr. Oz would allow his decisions as head of CMS to be "influenced by corporate preferences."
While Dr. Oz testified last week that CMS would abide by the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal taxpayer dollars from funding abortions, Hawley sought further assurances. He quoted Dr. Oz’s 2022 statement that he didn’t want the federal government "involved with" or "impinging" on state actions regarding abortion.
Hawley countered this by pointing out the numerous federal laws and regulations that implicate life issues and directly asked, "Will you support the President’s position and commit to upholding existing laws that prevent federal funds from being used for abortions?"
He also questioned Dr. Oz on whether he would uphold protections for conscience rights related to abortion, referencing the Weldon, Church, and Coats-Snowe Amendments. Furthermore, Hawley highlighted that CMS under Trump approved waivers allowing states to exclude abortion-performing clinics from the Medicaid program and asked Dr. Oz if he would support this policy and back similar waivers. He also inquired whether Dr. Oz would "support action at the federal level to directly exclude abortion providers from the Medicaid program."
The senator also addressed the Biden administration’s guidance through CMS suggesting that the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) required hospitals to perform abortions, overriding state laws. He asked Dr. Oz if he would return to the Trump policy and "clarify that EMTALA does not mandate abortions."
Finally, Hawley addressed the issue of transparent billing practices related to abortion coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). He noted that the Trump administration required separate billing plans that covered abortion, a requirement that the Biden administration eliminated. Hawley asked if Dr. Oz would support returning to Trump’s policy of "transparent billing practices and ensure that consumers pay properly separate charges for abortion."
Dr. Oz’s background as a respected heart surgeon who transitioned into a popular TV personality adds another layer of complexity to his nomination. His extensive media presence, including his 13-season run on "The Dr. Oz Show," has made him a household name but also provides a vast record of public statements that are now subject to intense scrutiny.
If confirmed, Dr. Oz would oversee health insurance for approximately 150 million Americans enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, or ACA coverage. This immense responsibility grants the CMS administrator significant power over the entire U.S. healthcare system, as they determine who and what is covered by these vital government programs.
Dr. Oz faced over two and a half hours of questioning before the Republican-controlled Senate Finance Committee last week. While the committee has yet to vote on forwarding his nomination to the full Senate, Hawley’s detailed questioning signals that Dr. Oz’s confirmation process will be far from smooth, as senators grapple with his past statements and seek assurances that he will align with the policies of the Trump administration. Hawley, though not a member of the Finance Committee, has clearly positioned himself as a key voice in shaping the debate surrounding Dr. Oz’s confirmation.
