The doctor in an ad targeting Florida Republican Gov. Rick Scott for not expanding Medicaid does not accept Medicaid, according to the Florida Department of Health.
“In here, you see it all, we’ve got an opioid crisis, a doctor shortage, seniors struggling to pay for care,” Dr. David Woolsey says in the ad. “But even with all that, Rick Scott vetoed millions in health care funds and refused federal funds that would have covered 750,000 Floridians.”
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Woolsey is referring to Scott’s opposition to Medicaid expansion under Obamacare. However, unlike the ad suggests, Scott never vetoed Medicaid expansion — it died in the Florida House of Representatives.
“Bill Nelson took on the insurance companies, forcing them to cover pre-existing conditions, and he’s working to get more people covered,” Woolsey says.
But despite Woolsey’s apparent support of Medicaid expansion, he “does NOT participate in the Medicaid program,” according to the Florida Department of Health website.
Doctors do not have to accept Medicaid patients, and many do not because the program often pays less than Medicare or private insurance plans. (RELATED: No Big Changes For Doctors Participating In Medicaid Since Obamacare, Even With More Pay)
The Democratic super PAC Senate Majority PAC released the ad on July 11. The ad buy cost $2.6 million dollars.
The super PAC is “solely dedicated to building a Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate,” according to the SMP website.
Scott is running against Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in the 2018 Florida Senate race. The Cook Political Report rated the race as a “toss up,” meaning that “either party has a good chance of winning.”
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