GEORGE M. SUAREZ, M.D. COMMENTED

Dear Friends and colleagues,


Please read the facts about Rick Scott and his aspiration to be the next governor of Florida: In The recent article appeared in the Jacksonville Florida times-Union, (Digging into the details of Rick Scott and Columbia/HCA, Mark Wood's column that ran in Friday's paper: http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/matt-dixon/2010-06-04/digging-details-rick-Scott-




I would like to express my personal opinions on the upcoming Florida Gubernatorial race. As a practicing physician for over 20 years and a lifelong citizen of Florida, I would like to voice my opinions to my friends, colleagues, and the editors of our newspaper and to the media in general in hope that my comments will expose the truth to the citizens of Florida before they go to the polls.



Who is Rick Scott, and what has been his public service record to qualify him as Governor of Florida? We know about his “self serving record “as CEO of Columbia/HCA. We know what they (HCA) did and their involvement in the largest medical fraud scheme in United States history. Mr. Scott claims that he will hold the government accountable for every dollar it spends..." That's what I've done in business,' his television ads say. "That what I'll do as governor."



What can Floridians really expect from Rick Scott as governor? Does a Zebra change its stripes or a Leopard its spots? If there is a place for Mr. Scott in Tallahassee, it should be in jail, along with his cronies at HCA. But Mr. Scott and HCA was able to buy their way out of jail time by paying 1.7 billion fines. Under the leadership of Rick Scott as CEO of HCA, they did the most despicable of all things in health care fraud. In quoting, the article above:" They used false diagnosis codes for patient records, inflating the government reimbursements. Paid illegal kickbacks to physicians. Creatively billed the government for everything from Kentucky Derby tickets to country club dues. Double-billed Medicare at nine south Florida hospitals." Does Rick Scott really think he can get Floridians to believe him and vote for him as the next governor of Florida? In Florida alone HCA, under his watch, “milked" the state and it's tax payers by double billing at 9 hospitals, and we should vote for him???



In his defense he states, as quoted: "Mistakes were made. He didn't’ know this was happening on his watch, but he takes responsibility for it. He has learned from it. He wants your vote." Someone please tell me this is a joke. Does he really think Floridians believe this?



In my opinion, if Mr. Scott, really wants to do something for our State, why not be a good citizen and donate any part of the millions of dollars that were bonuses to him when he left HCA and moved to Florida. I assume this kind of bonus was not for the guilt pf illegal fraud. He must have done something right to merit worth being rewarded so much money? Like maybe a huge profit from stealing from others and making HCA shareholders a profit?



If Mr. Scott really wants to do something for Florida, he may want to donate some of his HCA bonus money for a worthy cause. I hear that there is a real need to protect and clean up our shores from the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.His donations may even give you a sense of "personal cleansing and feel good."



Rick Scott wants our vote, our trust and our forgiveness for having been at the helm of the largest medical fraud scandal in the history of our country,,, and all the repercussions it cost Americans beyond the 9 hospitals in Florida that were a part the historical national health care fraud... As I am sure BP wants our forgiveness, confidence and support to continue drilling off the shores of the most pristine beaches in our country. President Richard Nixon also regretted Watergate and asked Americans for forgiveness.



Personally. I do believe in forgiveness, when it is genuine, sincere and paid its debt. Rick Scott has failed to do any of these. We cannot trust people that have shown no demonstrable honesty, accountability or moral integrity. Why should Floridians trust Rick Scott?



What can Floridians expect from Rick Scott if elected governor? I pose the following question: "how many times will a man fool you, steal, and lie and commit fraud?" Answer: “As many times as he can get away with it.” Ask Madoff...remember that story?





Mr. Scott, has done enough damage during his tenure as CEO of HCA. How can he expect Floridians to vote for him based on his claim: "That's what I've done in business, and that's what I'll do as governor?" Where is the integrity of his leadership in business?





I understand that Mr. Scott has shown little interest and has spent no money in courting the Hispanic vote. Except for a less than 5 minute stop at Versailles restaurant in Miami for a cup of Cuban coffee. To which he admitted it as the first time he had a Cuban coffee. Someone should inform Mr. Scott about the influence of the Hispanic vote in Florida. To not recognize this, or ignore it altogether makes me wonder about his qualifications to serve all Floridians? Miami- Dade county alone is more than 60% Hispanic. They. along with all Hispanics across Florida deserve to know who he is?



To all voters across Florida, I urge them to look at the facts before going to the polls and registering your vote for Florida's next governor. We have the two very important races in the Gubernatorial and Senate race that will influence the political climate at a national level. I am tired of politicians that claim to be something that they are not, and that have no public service experience or accountability for their careers. Bill McCollum has for more than three decades served our nation and our state. He has served in the United States Navy and the Navy reserve. He has served 20 years in the United States Congress, and most recently as Florida’s Attorney General.



Bill McCollum’s record in the legal pursuit of justice as a Navy Jag (Justice Advocate General’s Corps), and his priorities as Attorney-general in consumer protection, combating Medicaid fraud ( contrary to the very essence of Rick Scott’s past), his efforts in improving security against terrorist threats in Florida, fighting crime and identifying theft are his platform for his campaign. These are the issues that separate Bill McCollum from Rick Scott. McCollum’s greatest imminent concern on the issues also are related to the oil spill in the Gulf and how it relates to Florida’s water quality, along with National Health care issues are further commitments that come from a man with a long history as a public servant. Bill McCollum is a man that has never been challenged for wrong doing, fraud or lies. He has never been anything other than honest and forthright, He has never had to make up excuses for anything that may have gone wrong on his watch during greater than 30 years of being a public servant.



Floridians need to get the facts before they go to the voting polls.



PLEASE FORWARD TO YOUR FRIENDS. FLORIDA NEEDS BILL MCCOLLUM AS OUR NEXT GOVERNOR.