McNairy County Woman Charged with TennCare Drug Fraud

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A McNairy County woman is charged with TennCare fraud involving doctor shopping, or using TennCare to go to multiple doctors in a short time period to obtain controlled substances.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG), with the assistance of the McNairy County Sheriff’s Office, today announced the arrest of Barbara A. Alexander, 52, of Adamsville. She is charged with two counts of fraudulently obtaining the painkillers Oxycodone and Morphine by doctor shopping for multiple prescriptions, using TennCare as payment.

“People who are going from doctor to doctor to obtain painillers are committing a serious crime, regardless if the intention is personal abuse or selling drugs to others,” Inspector General Manny Tyndall.

TennCare fraud is a Class E felony carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison per charge.  District Attorney General D. Michael Dunavant is prosecuting.

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, 2,587 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 log on to www.tn.gov/tnoig/ and follow the prompts that read “Report TennCare Fraud.”