Georgia Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson, a billionaire businessman, has drawn significant scrutiny over his extensive healthcare business empire, which includes subsidiaries actively involved in recruiting foreign nurses for hospitals across the United States. The revelations come as Jackson, 71, prepares for a competitive GOP primary on May 19, where he is challenging Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, and Attorney General Chris Carr.
Jackson founded Jackson Healthcare in 2000, describing it as the "parent company to many of the healthcare industry’s leading brands." A key component of this empire, and a particular focus of recent attention, is Florida-based Avant Healthcare Professionals. Jackson Healthcare acquired Avant in January 2018. Avant specializes in placing international clinical workers in various U.S. healthcare settings, including hospitals and long-term care facilities. According to the Florida Trend, Avant assists these recruits with critical processes such as licensure, immigration, cultural training, and job placement, frequently utilizing H-1B and EB-3 visas for both temporary and permanent employment.
In 2023, Avant Healthcare Professionals faced a lawsuit filed by two nurses, Latoya Lewis from Jamaica and Lucinda Byron from St. Thomas and the Grenadines. The complaint, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, alleged a pattern of wage suppression, threats of deportation, and misleading contractual agreements. The nurses claimed they earned as little as $10 per hour during a mandatory month-long training period before being placed in facilities in Georgia and South Dakota. The lawsuit described the company's practices as "essentially indentured servitude," arguing that extended placements were designed to financially benefit Avant while disadvantaging its employees.
Avant reached a settlement in November, which covered more than 5,200 nurses recruited since 2013. The settlement provided approximately $2 million in compensation to the nurses and an additional $1 million for attorneys' fees. Despite the settlement, the company maintained its stance, asserting that EB-3 visa holders possess the right to change employers upon arrival in the U.S. and denied any wrongdoing in its recruitment and employment practices.
Beyond international staffing, Jackson’s healthcare experience also encompasses significant state contracts. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jackson Healthcare played a pivotal role in supplying doctors, nurses, and support personnel to hospitals under various state agreements. These efforts included contracts funded by nearly $710 million in federal American Rescue Plan funds. Healthbeat reported that the company also secured contracts with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and previously provided staffing to the Department of Human Services for foster care and psychiatric facilities, receiving $7.4 million for specialized services in 2022 and 2023.
Jackson’s campaign has actively highlighted these contributions, presenting them as clear evidence of his capacity to effectively respond to crises and expand healthcare access within the state. A campaign statement, cited by The Daily Caller, emphasized his readiness during the pandemic: "When COVID hit Georgia, Gov. Kemp asked Jackson for more doctors and nurses. And Jackson delivered again, refusing to send help to New York until Georgia got the emergency care it needed."
However, these business dealings have also raised concerns among legal and ethics experts. They caution that if elected, Jackson may need to significantly separate himself from his business interests to prevent potential conflicts of interest. Georgia law generally prohibits elected officials from holding state contracts, though certain exceptions exist for preexisting agreements, emergencies, and highly specialized services. Attorneys commonly recommend that candidates in such positions either divest from their assets or place them in a blind trust to avoid even the appearance of benefiting financially from state contracts while holding public office.
Jackson has a long history as a prominent GOP donor, contributing to various Republican campaigns, including those of some of his current primary opponents, such as Secretary of State Raffensperger and Attorney General Carr, as noted by Georgia Public Radio. With recent polls indicating Jackson is gaining ground on front-runner Burt Jones, his extensive business dealings, particularly those related to foreign nurse recruitment and state contracts, are expected to become central issues in the upcoming primary election. The candidate's blend of healthcare industry leadership, international staffing experience, and campaign promises focusing on law enforcement and immigration policy presents a complex intersection of business and politics, which will likely shape voter perceptions as the election approaches.
Burt Jones, a primary opponent, criticized Jackson via a social media post, stating, "America First? @RickJacksonGA is proving he's America Last — especially when he can make a profit. While he's out buying TV ads trying to convince Georgians he's a conservative, his company is importing foreign nurses while hardworking American healthcare workers suffer."
