Five People in East Tennessee Charged with TennCare Fraud

Tuesday, March 01, 2016 | 01:19pm

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Five people are charged with TennCare fraud in Knox, Anderson and Blount Counties. Four of the cases involve prescription drugs, and one of them involves a woman charged less than a year ago.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) today announced the arrests, which were each the result of separate investigations:

  • Christina M. Rogers, 27, of Knoxville, is charged in Knox County with three counts of fraudulently using TennCare to obtain controlled substance by doctor shopping, which involves using TennCare to visit multiple doctors in a short period of time to obtain prescription drugs. District Attorney Charme P. Allen is prosecuting.
  • Brittney N. Ensley, 25, of Knoxville, is charged in Knox County with TennCare fraud and theft of services over $10,000. Charges accuse her of under reporting her income to the state in order to obtain TennCare healthcare insurance benefits.
  • Susan Ott-Turk, 48, of Knoxville, is charged in Knox County with four counts of using TennCare benefits to obtain controlled substances by doctor shopping.
  • Angelia L. Burrell, 39, of Alcoa, is charged in Blount County with fraudulently obtaining the painkiller Percocet by doctor shopping. The arrest is Burrell’s second for TennCare fraud. She was charged in Knox County in May of last year with three counts of doctor shopping.  In both incidents, she used TennCare benefits to pay for either the doctor visits or the controlled substances. District Attorney General Mike Flynn will prosecute.
  • Michael Douglas Grainger, 57, of Rocky Top, is charged in Anderson County with TennCare fraud for using TennCare to obtain the painkiller Oxycodone and later allegedly selling a portion to a confidential informant. District Attorney General David Clark will prosecute.

 “Tennessee’s hard working taxpayers Tennessee have zero tolerance for TennCare fraud and abuse,” Inspector General Manny Tyndall said. “We are collaborating with law enforcement officers in all 95 counties to prosecute anyone we identify who is misusing TennCare benefits.”

TennCare fraud is a Class E felony carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison per charge.  Theft of services over $10,000 is a Class C felony punishable by up to six 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, more than 2,548 people have been charged with TennCare fraud.

Through the OIG Cash for Tips Program established by the Legislature, Tennesseans can get cash rewards for TennCare fraud tips that lead to convictions.  Anyone can report suspected TennCare fraud by calling 1-800-433-3982 toll-free from anywhere in Tennessee, or go to www.tn.gov/tnoig/  and follow the prompts that read “Report TennCare Fraud.”