• Posted March 14, 2025

Dr. Oz Accused of Underpaying Medicare Taxes Ahead of Nomination Hearing

Senate Democrats are raising concerns about Dr. Mehmet Oz’s nomination to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), alleging he significantly underpaid Medicare and Social Security taxes in recent years.

A memo from Democratic staffers on the Senate Finance Committee says a review of Oz's tax returns from 2021 to 2023 found the TV doctor and former U.S. Senate candidate paid no Medicare or Social Security taxes in 2023 and only a small amount in 2022. 

The memo alleges Oz avoided paying about $440,000 in these taxes by misclassifying his earnings from his media business, Oz Property Holdings LLC, according to NBC News.

Democratic staffers said they asked Oz to amend his returns to reflect these earnings as taxable under self-employment rules. 

But Oz argued that as a "limited partner" in the business, he was not liable. The committee disagrees, finding that he was "actively involved" and should have probably paid more.

“Dr. Oz’s position is counter to the position of the Department of Treasury and results in him not paying into Social Security and Medicare, the very healthcare program he hopes to manage,” the memo states. 

Oz’s spokesman, Christopher Krepich, defended him in a statement.

“The Office of Government Ethics has conducted an extensive review of Dr. Oz’s finances as part of the regular vetting process," the statement said. "OGE has transmitted to the Senate a letter indicating that any potential conflicts have been resolved and he is in compliance with the law.” 

Oz is set to appear before the Senate Finance Committee for his confirmation hearing on Friday. 

If confirmed, he would oversee CMS, which manages Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act insurance programs, providing health coverage for more than 160 million folks.

Some Senate Democrats have already opposed his nomination, citing concerns over his past support for moving all Americans into Medicare Advantage, which would replace traditional Medicare. 

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) was particularly critical.

“Not only does Dr. Oz want to gut Medicare, but he evidently cheated on his Medicare taxes,” she said in a statement.

“Dr. Oz is once again demonstrating that he cannot be trusted to protect Medicare and Medicaid for millions of people -- and Senate Republicans will be held accountable if they support this health care-cutting, tax-dodging nominee,” Warren added.

Oz is the latest in a series of controversial nominees by President Donald Trump to helm U.S. health agencies. 

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s history of vaccine skepticism nearly derailed nomination as secretary of Health and Human Services. 

And on Thursday, the White House withdrew Trump's nomination of another vaccine critic, Dave Weldon, as director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, because he wasn't assured of getting enough Republican support to be confirmed.  

More information

Learn more about Dr. Oz. 

SOURCES: NBC News, March 13, 2025; Associated Press, March 13, 2025