MOTHER AND DAUGHTER FROM GEORGIA ARRESTED FOR TENNCARE FRAUD

NASHVILLE – A mother and daughter from Georgia were arrested today for lying about the mother’s residency in order to get TennCare health insurance benefits. The TennCare Office of Inspector General (OIG) announced today that 62-year-old Peggy McCormick and her 37-year-old daughter Becki turned themselves in at the Hamilton County Courthouse in Chattanooga, where they were indicted last month.

The mother, who lives in Rossville, Georgia is charged for falsely claiming to be a Chattanooga resident in order to qualify for TennCare. She is charged with Fraudulently Obtaining TennCare Benefits and Theft of Services valued at more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000). Becki McCormick, her daughter, is charged with aiding and abetting her mother in the fraud by knowingly submitting a fraudulent application to TennCare on behalf of her mother.

“We intend to prosecute anyone, regardless of where they live, if they lie to get TennCare health benefits,” Inspector General Deborah Faulkner said. “People who cross the state line to gain a benefit available to Tennesseans aren’t just stealing taxpayer dollars – they’re keeping someone else from getting TennCare benefits.”

Bond was set at $10,000 dollars each for the McCormicks. District Attorney General William H. Cox is prosecuting.

Anyone can report suspected TennCare fraud by calling 1-800-433-3982 toll-free from anywhere in Tennessee, or log on to www.tennessee.gov/tenncare and follow the prompts that read “Report Fraud Now.”

TennCare is the state’s managed care health insurance program for 1.3 million people who are poor, disabled or uninsured.