Judge: Tuomey must find $20M to continue appeal

SUMTER, S.C. (AP) — A Sumter hospital has been given about two weeks to come up with $20 million so it can continue to appeal a $240 million judgment against it.

The Sumter Item reports (http://bit.ly/1ewfrVQ ) that a federal judge ruled Thursday that Tuomey Healthcare System needs to set aside $70 million to continue its appeal. The hospital has already set aside $50 million.

The hospital has 10 days to appeal the ruling.

A jury ruled last year that Tuomey made more than 21,000 false Medicare claims from 2005 to 2009 and ordered the hospital to pay almost $240 million in reimbursement and fines.

Tuomey is appealing the ruling, saying it would have to close if it had to pay that full amount.

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Information from: The Sumter Item, http://www.theitem.com