© 2024 All Rights reserved WUSF
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Suspicious Moves by Scott, HCA Resurface

Gov. Rick Scott’s leadership of the Columbia/HCA hospital chain is well known, as is the company’s record $1.7 billion fine for filing false claims for Medicare and other federal health programs.

But as he faces re-election, stories about a simultaneous investigation in the 1990s are emerging involving Scott and attempts to buy the then-publicly owned Tampa General Hospital, The Tampa Tribune reports.

The TGH president at the time was so concerned about the actions he asked Florida’s Attorney General to investigate whether HCA and hospital leaders were making finances look worse off than they were, according to the Tribune.

At the same time, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service were investigating complaints that HCA – under Scott’s leadership – were offering jobs and charitable gifts to leaders and public officials at two other hospitals in Florida, The Tribune reports.

Copyright 2014 WUSF Public Media - WUSF 89.7

Health News Florida is now part of WUSF Public Media in Tampa, Florida.
You Count on Us, We Count on You: Donate to WUSF to support free, accessible journalism for yourself and the community.