According to a memo produced by Democratic staff on the Senate Finance Committee and obtained by CNN, President Donald Trump’s candidate, who leads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Dr. Mehmet Oz, may have “reduced social security and Medicare taxes significantly lower wages” in recent years.
Oz, who appeared before the committee at a confirmation hearing Friday morning, paid “negligible” Social Security or Medicare tax in 2022, according to Sen. Ron Wyden, a ranking member of the memo and committee.
Celebrity doctors are responsible for overseeing Medicare if he is confirmed. CMS provides health coverage to more than 160 million Americans through Medicare, Medicaid and Affordable Care Act health insurance.
“Game time,” Oz arrived Friday to reporters for a hearing.
Oz took the position that he was not liable for certain taxes, including the self-employment tax, known as SECA, for revenue from his media entity OZ Property Holdings, the memo said.
“What that means is that anyone appointed to run Medicare thinks it is acceptable to not pay taxes to Social Security and Medicare, just as nurses and shootouts leave out of any salary,” Wyden said at the hearing.
An accountant for Oz told committee Democrats that doctors rely on limited partner exceptions. However, Democrat staff argued that he was actively involved in the company that holds his name, saying, “Dr. Oz’s position is against the position of the Treasury.”
An Oz spokesman said “The Government Ethics Bureau conducted an extensive review of Dr. Oz’s finances as part of the usual review process,” and “has sent a letter to the Senate indicating that a potential dispute has been resolved.”
The White House did not immediately return a request for comment.
Veronica Stracqualursi from CNN contributed to this report.
