Cannon Co. Woman Charged with TennCare Fraud

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A Cannon County woman is charged with TennCare fraud in nearby Rutherford County in a case involving prescription drugs.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) today announced the arrest of April Smotherman, 43, of Woodbury. She is charged with five counts of TennCare fraud relating to doctor shopping, which involves going to multiple doctors in a short period of time to obtain prescription drugs. Smotherman is accused of doctor shopping for the painkiller the painkiller Hydrocodone.  She turned herself in to authorities at the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office.

“Unauthorized use of TennCare to obtain prescription drugs is a serious crime we are pursuing every day across the state,” Inspector General Manny Tyndall said. “The Office of Inspector General is committed to ensuring TennCare benefits are not abused in this manner so that we preserve the program.”

District Attorney General Jennings H. Jones is prosecuting. As of July 1, 2016, TennCare fraud was changed to a Class D felony punishable by up to four years in prison.

The OIG, which is separate from TennCare, began full operation in February 2005 and has investigated cases leading to more than $3 million being repaid to TennCare, with a total estimated cost avoidance of more than $163.6 million for TennCare, according to latest figures. To date, 2,739 people have been charged with TennCare fraud.

Anyone can report suspected TennCare fraud by calling 1-800-433-3982 toll-free from anywhere in Tennessee, or visit the website and follow prompts that read “Report TennCare Fraud.”