FOUR PEOPLE SENTENCED ON TENNCARE FRAUD CONVICTIONS

ONE FORMER ENROLLEE FORCED TO REPAY $18,000

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Four people have been sentenced on TennCare fraud convictions after charges were filed earlier this year by the Office of Inspector General (OIG).

A couple from Marshall County is among those sentenced. Amanda Harris Spain, 29 and Timothy Craig Spain, 34, both of Lewisburg, pleaded guilty to obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and TennCare fraud. She received a total of 1.6 years to serve on the convictions. Spain was also ordered to pay restitution and she agreed to execute a voluntary request to be terminated from TennCare. Spain is already in custody serving time on a probation violation triggered by the TennCare arrest.

Timothy Craig Spain pled guilty to TennCare Fraud and received 3.5 years, also agreeing to execute a voluntary request to be terminated from TennCare. Spain is also in custody serving time on a probation violation triggered by the TennCare arrest.

The Spains were arrested on May 11. Amanda was charged with telephoning a pharmacy in Lewisburg with a prescription order for the painkiller Loratab. Timothy Craig Spain is accused of aiding and abetting Harris by picking up the prescription knowing that it was forged and paid for by TennCare.

Susan Blackwell was sentenced to serve a total of 3 years for TennCare fraud and obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. At the request of her attorney, she signed a voluntary request to be terminated from TennCare. Her arrest warrant accused her of presenting a forged prescription for 120 pills of Lortab to a pharmacy in Lewisburg. The Lortab, which is a powerful and addictive painkiller, was subsequently paid for by TennCare.

Kenneth Littles of Robertson County was fined $18,000 and received 3 years probation. He was charged with receiving $18,885.37 in unauthorized TennCare benefits from September 1, 2003 until December 12, 2004. Littles was accused of failing to report his employment and having access to insurance to TennCare. “We appreciate the local law enforcement and the District Attorneys who assist in our mission to arrest and prosecute any individual that is defrauding TennCare,” Inspector General Deborah Faulkner said. “We hope to make it clear that if you commit TennCare fraud, you will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

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.”