ACCESSING CLASSIFIED FILES
Decrypting documents...
Your connection is being monitored
Back to Individuals
high risk
Rick Scott
U.S. Senator (R-FL), Former Governor of Florida
CEO who presided over the largest Medicare fraud in American history ($1.7 billion settlement), then escaped criminal prosecution and used his personal fortune to become governor and senator
Overview
Rick Scott was the CEO and co-founder of Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation, which became the largest for-profit hospital chain in the United States. In 1997, the FBI raided HCA offices in a massive healthcare fraud investigation. Scott resigned as CEO shortly after. In 2000-2003, HCA agreed to pay $1.7 billion in settlements - the largest healthcare fraud settlement in U.S. history at the time - for systematically defrauding Medicare and Medicaid through upcoding, kickbacks to physicians, and billing for services never provided. Scott was never personally charged, invoking the Fifth Amendment 75 times during depositions. He received a $300 million severance package and $10 million in stock. Scott then spent $75 million of his personal fortune to win the Florida governorship in 2010, and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2018. As governor, he opposed Medicaid expansion under the ACA - the same program his company had defrauded.
Key Affiliations
Controversies & Concerns
CEO of Columbia/HCA during largest Medicare fraud in U.S. history ($1.7 billion settlement)
Invoked Fifth Amendment 75 times during fraud depositions; never personally charged
Received $300 million severance after forced resignation during FBI investigation
Spent $75 million of personal fortune on gubernatorial campaign
As governor, opposed Medicaid expansion for the program his company defrauded
Oversaw purge of 180,000 voters from Florida rolls before 2012 election
Related Investigations (5)
ALEC: The Corporate LegislatureEnvironmental
Tier 2
criticalColumbia/HCA Healthcare FraudFinancial Crime
Tier 3
criticalHealth Insurance Industry DeathsCivil Liberties
Tier 1
criticalMass IncarcerationMilitary & Foreign Policy
Tier 1
criticalMedical Bankruptcy in AmericaGovernment Accountability
Tier 2
criticalCriminal Charges & Violations
2 documented violations
31 U.S.C. 3729-3733Columbia/HCA paid $1.7B under False Claims Act for Medicare/Medicaid fraud (Scott personally not charged)(federal)
42 U.S.C. 1320a-7bHCA paid illegal kickbacks to physicians for patient referrals(federal)
Sources & Documentation
1 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
Personal Information
- Born
- December 1, 1952
- Birthplace
- Bloomington, Illinois
Education
- •University of Missouri-Kansas City (B.A.)
- •Southern Methodist University (J.D.)
Key Timeline
1987
Co-founds Columbia Hospital Corporation
1994
Columbia acquires HCA; becomes largest U.S. hospital chain
1997-03-19
FBI raids HCA offices in El Paso and other cities
1997-07
Forced to resign as CEO; receives $300M severance
2000-12
HCA agrees to $840M settlement (first of two)
2003-06
HCA agrees to additional $881M settlement; total $1.7B
2010-11
Elected Governor of Florida
2018-11
Elected U.S. Senator from Florida