Schiff Demands Independent Investigation Into Dr. Oz Over “Discriminatory” CMS Video

U.S. Senator Adam Schiff of California has called for an independent investigation into actions taken by Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), after a video posted on an official government social media account accused Armenian American–owned businesses in Los Angeles of being connected to a massive hospice fraud scheme.

According to Schiff, the video, posted in late January 2026, focused on the Van Nuys neighborhood and claimed—without presenting evidence—that dozens of Armenian American businesses were fronts for a $3.5 billion fraud operation. The video also highlighted Armenian-language signs at local storefronts and suggested links to organized crime, while showing blurred images of people standing on a balcony, implying their involvement in illegal activity.

Schiff said such claims were harmful, discriminatory, and dangerous, especially when coming from the head of a major federal agency. He stressed that while fraud in health care should always be taken seriously, singling out one ethnic community is not a proper way to conduct oversight and could lead to serious consequences for innocent people.

In a formal letter sent to Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General T. March Bell, Schiff demanded that the office open an independent inquiry into the incident and determine whether Dr. Oz misused government resources or violated federal policies that prohibit discrimination.

“I strongly urge you to open an independent investigation into this incident, which should include an inquiry into misuse of taxpayer dollars and flagrant targeting of communities based on ethnicity. These allegations peddle a racist conspiracy about California’s Armenian American community and undermine Armenian Americans’ civil rights,” Senator Schiff wrote.

The senator emphasized that California is home to nearly 250,000 Armenian Americans—more than half of the Armenian population in the United States—and that the community has a long history in the state. He added that Armenian Americans have faced discrimination in the past and that public accusations tied to their culture or language could deepen fear and mistrust.

Schiff also pointed out that CMS oversees an enormous portion of the federal budget. In 2024 alone, spending through Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program reached $1.7 trillion, or about one quarter of total federal spending. Because of this, he argued, statements made by the agency’s leader carry exceptional weight and can influence how health care providers, insurers, and communities interact across the country.

In the letter, Schiff continued:

“To suggest markers of Armenian culture, language, and identity are indicative of criminality underscores a discriminatory motive that could taint any investigation into fraud and incite the further demonization of the community. The Administrator’s inappropriate amplification of historical tropes and stereotypes in service of the Administration’s agenda is an egregious misuse of official resources and communication channels. As the top official at CMS, the Administrator’s comments risk real-world consequences for the health and wellbeing of Armenian Americans. […] In light of the severity of the allegations made against the Armenian American community, I urge you to open an investigation into Administrator’s Oz’s actions described above.”

Schiff also drew on his background as a former federal prosecutor in Los Angeles, saying he understands the importance of aggressively pursuing fraud against the government. At the same time, he argued that targeting an entire ethnic group is both unjust and ineffective.

“As a former federal prosecutor in Los Angeles who investigated and prosecuted fraud against the federal government, I take allegations of fraud very seriously. Anyone engaged in fraud should be investigated and prosecuted. But to single out one community and label it as a culprit is no way to identify fraud; it is indiscriminate slander instead,” he wrote.

The senator added that he would be willing to work with CMS leadership and other officials to improve oversight efforts in California, but said there should be no tolerance for what he described as reckless attacks against Armenian Americans.

Schiff asked the Inspector General to provide detailed answers by February 20, 2026, to a series of questions about Dr. Oz’s visit to Van Nuys and the claims made in the video. These included whether taxpayer funds were used for the trip, whether CMS had already conducted formal investigations into hospice fraud in the area, and whether any evidence supported the assertion that Armenian-language signs or businesses were linked to organized crime. He also asked whether Dr. Oz may have violated internal policies against discriminatory conduct and what information had been used to justify the allegations.

In the closing section of his letter, Schiff highlighted the long-standing role of Armenian Americans in Southern California and their contributions to the region’s economy and culture after fleeing violence and persecution in earlier generations.

“The Armenian American community in Los Angeles has contributed so much to Southern California with their culture and determination to forge new lives for themselves and their families after unspeakable horrors. I welcome any serious effort to combat waste, fraud and abuse, but the rule of law requires that it be based on evidence, not language, culture, or ethnicity.”

Schiff said the full text of his letter to the Inspector General has been made public, as pressure grows for federal authorities to review the CMS administrator’s actions and determine whether official government platforms were used inappropriately in ways that could harm a minority community.

—

Support independent reporting from the region by subscribing to The Armenian Report. Our team is funded solely by readers like you.