CMS Chief Mehmet Oz Touts AI Avatars for Rural Care, Drawing Criticism

Overview

• Oz said "the best way to help some of these communities" is through AI-based avatars and added "whether you want it or not," positioning the tools to triage patients and flag issues to clinicians.
• The remarks were delivered at an Action for Progress gathering alongside HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., according to Raw Story’s account of the event.
• Oz cited a Rural Health Transformation Fund he described as a 50% increase in Medicaid-related investment for rural systems, saying many state applications included mental‑health support proposals.
• Reaction on social platforms was largely negative, with Bluesky users mocking the idea of "chat bot" doctors and questioning AI reliability for sensitive care.
• Critics pointed to practical alternatives such as granting nurse practitioners full practice authority in every state, while reports also noted recent Trump-era legislation reducing funding for rural hospitals already struggling with staffing.