A person who knowingly causes to be presented a false claim for payment to an insurer transacting business in this State, to a health maintenance organization transacting business in this State, or to any person, including the State of South Carolina, providing benefits for health care in this State, whether these benefits are administered directly or through a third person, or who knowingly assists, solicits, or conspires with another to present a false claim for payment as described above, is guilty of a:

(1) felony if the amount of the claim is ten thousand dollars or more. Upon conviction, the person must be imprisoned not more than ten years or fined not more than five thousand dollars, or both;

(2) felony if the amount of the claim is more than two thousand dollars but less than ten thousand dollars. Upon conviction, the person must be fined in the discretion of the court or imprisoned not more than five years, or both;

(3) misdemeanor triable in magistrates court or municipal court, notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 22-3-540, 22-3-545, 22-3-550, and 14-25-65, if the amount of the claim is two thousand dollars or less. Upon conviction, the person must be fined not more than one thousand dollars, or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.

HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 38-55-170 [1962 Code Section 37-1217; 1964 (53) 2293] recodified as Section 38-57-170 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1; Former 1976 Code Section 38-9-310 [1947 (45) 322; 1952 Code Section 37-167; 1962 Code Section 37-167; 1986 Act No. 410] recodified as Section 38-55-170 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1; 1989 Act No. 148, Section 23; 1993 Act No. 73, Section 1; 1993 Act No. 184, Section 121; 2010 Act No. 273, Section 16.Z, eff June 2, 2010.