Oz speaks out about shutdown, Medicaid cuts, Medicare Advantage audits and more

CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz defended controversial policy decisions from Republicans in Washington during an appearance at a think tank Monday, arguing that cuts to the safety-net Medicaid program are not really cuts and stumping for a clean funding bill to reopen the government.

That’s despite looming premium pain for people on Affordable Care Act plans — a key sticking point fueling the funding impasse on Capitol Hill.

Oz also shared how his agency, which oversees federal health insurance programs for some 160 million Americans, is still focused on cracking down on overpayments to Medicare Advantage plans, despite a recent setback in the courts.

The former cardiothoracic surgeon and television personality also teased the incoming Medicaid director and weighed in on potential Medic