Senate Finance Committee advances Mehmet Oz's nomination to lead Medicare in party-line vote

The Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday afternoon voted to advance Dr. Mehmet Oz's nomination to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in party-line vote.

The nomination was advanced to a full Senate vote in a 14-13 split. 

President Donald Trump nominated Oz for the position in November, stating there "may be no Physician more qualified and capable than Dr. Oz to Make America Healthy Again."

"He is an eminent Physician, Heart Surgeon, Inventor, and World-Class Communicator, who has been at the forefront of healthy living for decades," Trump said. "Dr. Oz will work closely with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to take on the illness industrial complex, and all the horrible chronic diseases left in its wake."

GOP Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho claimed that Oz was "uniquely qualified" for the role, CBS News reported. But Democrats have criticized his views toward abortion. 

No date for the full Senate vote on his nomination has been set so far. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.