Bedford Co. Woman Charged 2nd Time with TennCare Fraud

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A Bedford County woman is charged a second time for doctor shopping, or going to multiple providers to obtain prescriptions for controlled substances.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG), with assistance from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, today announced the arrest of Sonya Marie Leverette, 31, of Shelbyville. She is charged in Coffee County with four counts of doctor shopping involving the painkillers Hydrocodone and a form of Codeine, using TennCare to pay for the clinical visits, the prescriptions or both.

Leverette was first arrested in April, after an indictment in Bedford County, where she faced three counts of fraudulently using TennCare to obtain a controlled substance by doctor shopping. Both cases were being worked simultaneously, with the indictments served a few months apart.

“Prescription drug abuse is a concern of communities large and small across Tennessee,” Inspector General Manny Tyndall said.  “With the help of providers, we’re sending a message that abusing TennCare will result in criminal prosecution.”

TennCare fraud is a Class E felony carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison per charge.  District Attorney General Craig Northcott 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, 2,657 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.”