Mississippi Woman Must Repay Tennessee for TennCare Benefits

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A Mississippi woman charged with TennCare fraud over a year ago has been ordered to repay the state for benefits received while she was a member of TennCare.

Tatiana Wilkins, 28, of Robinsonville, Mississippi, is ordered to repay the state $10,501 for healthcare insurance benefits received for herself and her family. A Shelby County Criminal Court granted her judicial diversion, meaning that she’ll have to successfully complete four years of probation.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) charged Wilkins in January of 2016, when she was accused of falsifying TennCare documents by saying she lived in Tennessee, even though she and her family lived in Mississippi. She was charged with three counts of TennCare fraud and theft of property over $10,000. 

“The TennCare program is solely for the citizens of the state of Tennessee,” Inspector General Manny Tyndall said. “Anyone who comes across the state line to fraudulently obtain these benefits will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

District Attorney General Amy T. Weirich prosecuted this case.

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, 2,537 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.”

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