Dr. Oz becomes next head of Medicare and Medicaid services following approval from full Senate

Dr. Mehmet Oz was confirmed by the full Senate Thursday afternoon to be the next head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Medicare is a federal healthcare program for seniors aged 65 and up, and currently provides coverage to about 65 million Americans, according to the Center for Medicare Advocacy. Medicaid, a public health assistance program for people with low incomes, covers roughly 72 million Americans, according to Medicaid.gov. Meanwhile, CHIP, which provides free or low-cost health coverage for eligible low-income children and family members, assists around 7.2 million individuals. 

A graduate of Harvard University, Oz received medical and business degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a former heart surgeon who saw his fame rise through his appearances on daytime television, including "The Oprah Winfrey Show," and 13 seasons of "The Dr. Oz Show."