Obion Co. Man Charged with TennCare Drug Fraud

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

The Office of Inspector General (OIG), with the assistance of the Union City Police Department and the Obion County Sheriff’s Office, today announced the arrest of Jerry Glen Yates, 52, of Hornbeak. He is charged with two counts of fraudulently using TennCare to obtain controlled substances by doctor shopping for the painkiller Oxycodone, with the clinical visits or the prescriptions being paid for by TennCare.

“We’re very grateful for the assistance we receive from local police as well as pharmacies and providers who all want to bring an end to the abuse of TennCare, especially in the area of prescription drugs,” Inspector General Manny Tyndall said.  “We’ll keep pursuing people who commit these crimes as many times as it takes until they understand we’re not tolerating this type of abuse within the TennCare program.”

TennCare fraud is a Class E felony carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison per charge.  District Attorney General Thomas A. Thomas 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, 2,659 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.”