Wyden Asks Dr. Oz to Honor His Commitment to Come to Eastern Oregon
With Dr. Oz confirmed today as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Oregon senator suggests dates when Dr. Oz could join him in Malheur County
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today invited Dr. Mehmet Oz to honor his recent commitment to join him for a Malheur County town hall so the Trump appointee could hear directly about Medicaid’s importance in the county with the state’s highest share of residents enrolled in the federal-state program that helps seniors, children, families and more cover medical and nursing home costs -- known in Oregon as the Oregon Health Plan.
Citing Dr. Oz’s March 14 confirmation hearing last month with the Senate Finance Committee in today’s written invitation, Wyden’s letter followed today’s Senate floor vote to confirm Dr. Oz as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
“I know you will honor your commitment to Oregonians to visit Malheur County so you can hear directly from citizens and dedicated health care workers how devastating proposed Medicaid cuts by the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans would be to one of Oregon’s poorest counties,” wrote Wyden, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee. “The importance of Medicaid in Malheur County cannot be overstated. With more than half of its residents enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan, it has the highest share among Oregon’s 36 counties”.
Wyden, who has held 1,110 open-to-all town halls throughout Oregon in keeping with his commitment to hold at least one such town hall each year in each of Oregon’s 36 counties, reminded Dr. Oz just how vital the Oregon Health Plan is for residents of this rural county.
“The Oregon Health Plan is a lifeline for seniors, children, people with disabilities, and farmworkers in Malheur County. It is what allows families to place their aging loved one in a local nursing home,” wrote Wyden, who voted against the nomination of Dr. Oz in the Finance Committee as well as today on the Senate floor. “The Oregon Health Plan helps kids have access to counseling at school, support they would not receive otherwise. It allows kids and adults with disabilities to go to school, go to work, and thrive at home, in their communities, because they have access to home-based care. And it is what guarantees life-saving treatment for the sickest Oregonians, in their darkest hours.”
“Not only that, the Oregon Health Plan is the economic lifeblood of Malheur County,” Wyden wrote. “Malheur County boasts one hospital, one nursing home, and a community-based mobile crisis team, operating 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for people who experience a behavioral health crisis. These pillars of the community offer stable employment for doctors, nurses, aides, counselors, janitors, and administrators, among others.”
Wyden told Dr. Oz he could schedule a town hall with him on April 23 in Malheur County during the Senate’s upcoming state work period, or between June 19-21 during the June state work period.
The entire letter is here.
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