Regional Hospital accused of Medicare fraud by U.S. Attorney
South Carolina Regional Hospital, Tuomey Regional Medical Center, is accused of Medicare and Medicaid fraud in a qui tam lawsuit, brought by the U.S. Attorney's Office in South Carolina. According to a recent article on State.com, the suit involves the Regional Hospital overcharging Medicare for surgeries and “bribing” doctors with “kickbacks” for their business. The case is being handled by U.S. Attorney Norman Acker. The lawsuit alleges that the Toumey Regional Medical Center created a billing scheme from January 2005 to September 2007, in which "it submitted and caused others to submit false and fraudulent claims for payment to Medicare and Medicaid ...”
Judge Matthew Perry ruled yesterday that the Justice Department-backed lawsuit against the South Carolina Regional Hospital can proceed and crucial evidence against the Hospital can be admitted into the f the case. The lawyers for the hospital had been trying to get the case dismissed.
Orthopedic Surgeon, Michael Drakeford, initial qui tam lawsuit was filed under seal in federal court in Columbia in October 2005. The federal government investigated Drakeford’s claims and before taking over as lead plaintiff in the case.
Time will tell how much of the behind-the-scenes, big-profits world of doctors and hospitals in the billion-dollar S.C. health care industry will be revealed. The hospital is expected to answer the allegations by March 28.
The case could be worth millions of dollars to the government if the South Carolina Hospital is found guilty of fraudulently over billing the government or if they decide to settle and no admit any guilt or wrong doing.
Charles Miller, a Department of Justice spokesman is quoted as saying, "The government intervenes only if a case has merit. The department gets involved in less than 25 percent of qui tam actions filed each year. In qui tam cases, the government nearly always gets a settlement or wins in a jury trial."
Click here to read more on this case from the State.com
DR. DRAKEFORD IS VERY COURAGEOUS TO HAVE PUT HIMSELF ON THE LINE AND PROTECTING OUR CITIZENS. GIANTS LIKE TUOMEY AND THEIR BIG CHIEFS DID NOT HAVE THE GUTS TO BE FAIR AND HONEST. WHATEVER SOARS TO THE TOP HAS TO ONE DAY COME DOWN. WHAT IS AT THE TOP TRICKLES DOWN. THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER LAWSUIT AGAINST ONE OF THEIR DOCTORS, DR. MITCHINER WHO FIRED DR. DENNIS FOR DELIVERING A BEAUTIFUL BOUNCING BABY. HOW CAN A "PEDIATRICIAN" DO THAT? SHAME ON HIM! WE SHOULD JUST GET A WHOLE NEW BOARD. REPLACE JAY COX WITH DR. DRAKEFORD, AND JOHN MITCHINER WITH DR. DENNIS. THAT OUGHT TO TEACH THEM NOT TO HURT THE POOR AND ORPHANS. HAVE YOU SEEN THE ONE WHO TURNS AWAY THE ORPHAN AND TREATS THE ORPHAN HARSHLY?
Great job, Dr. Drakeford!
Over billing the government in any way is wrong. The United States has enough debt without everybody trying to put their hand in the pot. I have a disabled adult who lives at home and there is a huge problem in North Carolina with case management companies billing for things they do not need to do. They just want their $51.00 an hour and they don't care about disabled adults!
I heard that it started with the Chief of Staff Dr. John Mark Mitchiner firing Dr. Ronnie Dennis for delivering a baby, and in turn got sued himself and the Tuomey Hospital. Then Dr.Drakeford finds out the hospital has been cheating, and Tuomey gets sued. Chief Mitchiner used to be the VIP Vice Chief of Staff for 2 years before he was made Chief of Staff. There may have been the question of which of these doctors were more qualified to be the Chief of Staff. Dr. Mitchiner may have gotten the position becuase he knew somebody who knew somebody, and not just by his own merit. So the bloody battle between them. As recalled, Dr. Mitchiner's words were: "You did it to yourself". That is so unprofessional of him. How many people has Dr. Mitchiner hurt with his tongue only God knows.