Republican Senator Rick Scott‘s background as the former CEO of Columbia/HCA, a large hospital chain, has been a point of controversy and scrutiny.

Key Points About Rick Scott and Columbia/HCA:

1. Columbia/HCA Fraud Case (1990s):

   • Before entering politics, Rick Scott was the co-founder and CEO of Columbia Hospital Corporation, which later merged to form Columbia/HCA, the largest for-profit hospital chain in the U.S.

   • In the late 1990s, the company became the target of a massive federal Medicare fraud investigation.

   • The Justice Department found that Columbia/HCA had systematically overbilled Medicare and other federal health programs, leading to what was at the time the largest healthcare fraud settlement in U.S. history ($1.7 billion in fines and penalties).

2. Rick Scott’s Role:

   • Scott resigned as CEO in 1997 as the scandal unfolded, with a $10 million severance package and millions in stock.

   • He has consistently denied personal wrongdoing, claiming he was unaware of the fraudulent activities.

   • Critics argue that, as CEO, he either knew or should have known about the fraudulent billing practices.

3. Political Career and Medicare Stances:

   • Despite the scandal, Scott was elected Governor of Florida (2011–2019) and later U.S. Senator (2019–present).

   • As a senator, he has advocated for Medicare reforms, including proposing a plan that critics argued could lead to Medicare and Social Security cuts (though he later revised his stance).

   • Democrats have frequently used his Columbia/HCA history to attack his credibility on healthcare policy.

While Rick Scott himself was never charged in the Columbia/HCA scandal, his leadership during the company’s fraudulent billing practices remains a significant part of his political record. If you’re looking for a recent “Medicare fraud scandal” directly tied to him as a senator, there isn’t one—but his business past continues to be a contentious issue.

Meanwhile,

Public Health Sacrificed for Corporate Wins

The New York Times’ office building in Manhattan was ‘vandalized’ with red paint this morning. The words ‘NYT Lies Gaza Dies’ were written on the windows

The New York Times’ office building in Manhattan was ‘vandalized’ with red paint this morning. The words ‘NYT Lies Gaza Dies’ were written on the windows
byu/artbasiI inFauxmoi

Adel Madi, 27, died at Nasser Hospital in Gaza from starvation and lack of medicine due to blockade.

In ancient Greece, prostitutes wore special sandals that printed a message in the ground reading, “follow me” to advertise their services