Georgians are calling out Rick Jackson following new reporting from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on how billionaire Rick Jackson personally profits off of a failing hospital – and states like Alabama and Georgia’s failure to expand Medicaid.
The AJC’s Riley Bunch reports on how Jackson’s billion-dollar healthcare company offered Jackson Hospital in Montgomery a high-interest loan that “gives Jackson’s company close control over the hospital and puts him first in line to be repaid.” Part of the agreement includes “millions in other fees” and a “14% interest rate – that increases to 19% if payment is missed,” meaning Jackson will make more money if the hospital fails.
Here’s what Georgians had to say in response to this bombshell reporting.
State Rep. Michelle Au: “[Jackson] sells himself as a healthcare expert. He is, in fact, an expert in PROFITING off of the healthcare patients so desperately need.”
State Senator RaShaun Kemp: “[Jackson] already is the Donald Trump of Georgia! He is making millions off of a failing hospital in Alabama. His approach: get rich while opposing full Medicaid expansion.”
State Rep. Ruwa Romman: “The corruption is so obvious. Once again, Rick Jackson is taking advantage of our healthcare needs to make himself richer while spinning it as charity. Disgusting.”
Bentley Hudgins, HD-90 Democratic nominee: “Healthcare is a human right. But Rick Jackson has treated Georgia’s healthcare system like a taxpayer-funded payday.”
Zaid Jilani: “Rick Jackson got rich not by inventing cures to diseases or healing the sick but by working as a middleman and financier who makes money off sick people. He is the reason health care is so expensive.”
###