Sullivan Co. Woman Charged with Seven Counts of TennCare Drug Fraud

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A Sullivan County woman is charged with doctor shopping for prescription drugs, using TennCare as payment. Doctor shopping involves going to multiple doctors in a 30-day period seeking prescriptions for controlled substances.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG), with the assistance of officers from the Kingsport Police Department and the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, today announced the arrest of Stacey Nahrgang, 36, of Kingsport.

Nahrgang is charged with seven counts of fraudulently using TennCare to obtain a controlled substance by doctor shopping. The charges involve prescriptions obtained for the painkillers Hydrocodone, Oxycodone and Tramadol, with the clinical visits, prescriptions or both being paid for by TennCare.

“Using TennCare to obtain prescription drugs in this manner 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 so we preserve the program for those who truly need the benefits.”

TennCare fraud is a Class E felony carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison per charge.  District Attorney General Barry P. Staubus 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, 2,635 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.”