Stop the Health Care Lies
Recently, Rick Scott, who's for-profit hospital chain defrauded Medicare, bought ads on CNN and FOX News networks. Scott's ad contains blatantly false statements and misleading edits. We've teamed up with SEIU to call on cable news networks to adhere to their own 'truth-in-advertising' policies and pull these ads. Join us!
Below is Mr. Rick Scott's advertisement:
And a quick fact-check from Media Matters:
To see more, read and watch Think Progress' fact-check, here.
Below are the reasons we are asking for this ad to be taken down:
- Rick Scott, the narrator featured in the advertisement, misleads viewers about the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research, a newly-created entity by the economic recovery package signed into law by President Obama in February. Mr. Scott makes a specific claim: "not only could a government board deny your choice in doctors, but it can control life and death for some patients." This statement is demonstrably false. In reality, the powers of this so-called "government board" are clearly defined and cannot do what Mr. Scott claims. The statutory authority of the Council specifically excludes the power "to mandate coverage, reimbursement, or other policies for any public or private payer." It is worth noting that even under President Bush, the National Institute of Health already had an annual budget of $355 million to conduct precisely this type of research. Plainly, this has not led to the sort of catastrophic consequences in America that Mr. Scott warns against.
- The advertisement further deceives viewers by blatantly misrepresenting the positions of two physicians. While the advertisement paints both as opponents of any role for government in health care reform, in reality, just the opposite is true. Both physicians are in fact supporters of universal health care. What they are opposed to is the U.S.'two-tiered' system that already rations health care based on the ability to pay. In fact, Mr. Scott misrepresented Dr. Day's comments, and Dr. Day openly mocked the ineffectiveness of the U.S. health care system. What Dr. Day is opposed to is Canada's outdated funding model, not Canada's healthcare system. Dr. Day actually advocates reform of the funding structure to preserve Canada's healthcare system, not dismantle it.
This advertisement is false, deceitful, and a distortion. We request that CNN and FOX immediately cease airing it.