In the category of "a bank robber is the best person to run The National Association Of Bank Security Professionals," President-elect Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he will be selecting former daytime TV Host Dr. Oz to serve as administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services:
Aside from his many other achievements, in 2018 Dr. Mehmet Oz notably reached a $5.25 million deal in a false advertising class action accusing him of overstating the benefits of dietary supplements promising weight loss:
A trio of plaintiffs filed the case in February 2016, alleging that Dr. Oz and related corporate entities promoted products such as Labrada Garcinia Cambogia Dual Action Fat Buster and Labrada Green Coffee Bean Extract Fat Loss Optimizer as a “magic weight-loss cure” and “revolutionary fat buster” on his eponymous talk show, when in fact no scientific evidence existed to back up the claims.
Class members include U.S. residents who purchased any green coffee bean extract or garcinia cambogia product from Feb. 2, 2012, until the settlement notice is disseminated, or any weight loss product, ingredient and/or plant after viewing three specific episodes of The Dr. Oz Showdevoted to green coffee bean extract or garcinia cambogia. Claimants will receive $30 cash for each product purchased, up to $90 per household without proof of purchase, and without limit for those with receipts.
The defendants also promised not to re-air three episodes of The Dr. Oz Show that promoted the products, as well as to remove online clips from all three episodes.
According to the agency, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) "is a federal agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that administers the Medicare program and works in partnership with state governments to administer Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and health insurance portability standards."
The CMS is also responsible for inspecting and reporting on every nursing home in the United States. So if Grandma suddenly starts talking about the healing benefits of green tea extracts next year, you'll know who to blame.
