A judge's order for Sumter, S.C.-based Tuomey Healthcare System's to pay roughly $277 million in fines for false Medicare claims has been reduced by $39 million to correct a clerical error, according to a report from The State.
U.S. District Judge Margaret Seymour ordered Tuomey to pay $276.7 million in fines after a jury found the system and its physicians participated in a kickback scheme and submitted more than 20,000 false Medicare claims.
The penalty amount broke down to roughly $39 million in repayments and a civil penalty award of more than $237 million — the amount the government had requested under the False Claims Act.
The penalty has been lowered to about $237.4 million after federal attorneys submitted a motion to lower the amount to correct an apparent clerical error, according to the report.
At the same time, Tuomey's attorneys officially filed their notice to appeal the financial judgment to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, according to the report. They are also seeking an appeal for their motion calling for either a new trial or a judgment in their favor, which Judge Seymour denied.
Meanwhile, hospital officials said they are also continuing to pursue a post-judgment settlement with the government. If that is reached, it would bar the case from going to the appellate court.
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