Rick Scott

Rick Scott, a 71-year-old Republican, the incumbent in the race, was the 45th Governor of Florida, serving from 2011 to 2018. Scott served his first term as a Senator in 2019 as well as serving as the Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee from 2021 to 2023.

Before Scott’s political career, he founded the Columbia Hospital Corporation, a for-profit chain of hospitals. CHC would later merge with the Hospital Corporation of America and go on to become the largest for-profit hospital chain in the United States with Scott as its CEO. In 1997 the hospital chain was under criminal investigation for alleged fraudulent charges from its hospitals to Medicare and Medicaid. In July of the same year Scott was forced to resign, giving him $10 million in cash and $300 million in company stock. While Scott was not charged with any crimes, the hospital chain was forced to pay a total of $1.7 billion in fines.

Following his departure from the hospital chain, he moved to Florida, starting his own investment firm, Richard L. Scott Investments, along with another health care company, Solantic Corporation, in 2001.

Scott did not respond to Oviedo Community News’ request for an interview. He has received $20,172,885.18 in funding from contributions, transfers from other committees and loans. Within the same period Scott has spent $20,358,899.49

Scott did not submit a video or participate in OCN’s candidate Q&A.

HCA Florida Healthcare donates funds, volunteers at Second Harvest

By Editor

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Announcements

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April 29, 2026

More than 100 colleagues from HCA Florida Healthcare sites of care across the Greater Orlando region came together at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida on April 3 and April 24 to help sort and pack food donations. On April 24, HCA Florida Healthcare volunteers also presented a $20,000 donation to help provide food to families experiencing insecurity. The events were part of HCA Healthcare’s national We Show Up for Our Communities initiative that occurs each April to address community needs through volunteering, making charitable donations and partnering with local organizations.