Senator John Fetterman offered rare praise for his former political rival Dr. Mehmet Oz this week, saying the Trump administration official is right to focus on eliminating fraud within Medicaid.
Fetterman made the remarks during a Wednesday interview when asked whether Oz, who now serves as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is doing a good job in the role.
“I think it’s entirely appropriate,” Fetterman said. “What we’re discovering is that there was a lot of fraud in Medicaid, and now let’s root that out.”
The Pennsylvania Democrat said investigating fraud within government programs is a necessary step while still protecting the benefits themselves.
“I’m very supportive of Medicaid, obviously, but now root out all of the kinds of fraud,” Fetterman said. “So it seems like that’s what he’s zeroing in on and, as long as he continues, yes, absolutely.”
Fetterman also compared the approach to immigration enforcement, saying the government should focus on removing criminals.
“That’s the same thing about immigration, root out all of the criminals and deport them,” he added.
The comments marked a notable moment between the two men, who were opponents in one of the most high-profile Senate races of the 2022 midterm elections.
Fetterman defeated Oz in the closely watched Pennsylvania contest, which became a national political battle.
During that campaign, Fetterman leaned heavily on a populist message and frequently criticized Oz as an out-of-touch celebrity candidate.
Fetterman also battled through a stroke during the campaign before ultimately winning the race and helping Democrats retain control of the Senate at the time.
Now serving in the Trump administration, Oz has made investigating fraud within Medicaid programs a major priority.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently launched a detailed review of New York’s Medicaid system after officials raised concerns about potential abuse and improper payments.
Earlier this month, Oz sent a letter to New York Governor Kathy Hochul requesting answers to 50 questions about how the program operates in the state.
The letter gave state officials 30 days to provide the requested information to federal authorities.
Hochul’s office said the state has already taken steps to combat fraud and waste in the program.
A spokesperson for the governor said the state previously implemented reforms that eliminated hundreds of Medicaid intermediaries and saved more than $2 billion for taxpayers.
The spokesperson said New York would work with the federal government to identify fraudulent activity but criticized the CMS investigation as politically motivated.
The governor’s office also argued that the Trump administration and congressional Republicans ultimately want to cut programs that support vulnerable Americans.
Despite the disagreement between the state and federal government, Fetterman’s remarks highlighted bipartisan support for efforts to eliminate fraud within major government programs.
The post Fetterman Praises Former Opponent Dr. Oz For Targeting Medicaid Fraud appeared first on Real News Now.
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