Sullivan Co. Woman Charged with TennCare Drug Fraud

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A Sullivan County woman is charged with TennCare fraud related to obtaining and selling prescription drugs.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) today announced the arrest of Ashley Annette Hall, 33, of Bristol. She is charged with two counts of TennCare fraud, four counts each of sale and delivery of  a controlled substance and one count of maintaining a dwelling where controlled substances are kept and/or sold. The drug involved was Buprenorphine, which is generic for Suboxone, a controlled substance used for the treatment of opioid addiction. The charges say the drug was purchased using TennCare benefits.

Hall was served when she appeared in Sullivan County Criminal Court on related charges. 

“We are increasingly proactive in our investigations, and that means greater success in bringing charges and weeding this activity out of TennCare,” Inspector General Manny Tyndall said. “The Bristol Police Department is one of many state law enforcement agencies contributing to our aggressive effort to thwart TennCare fraud.”

TennCare fraud is a Class E felony carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison per charge. District Attorney General Barry Staubus is prosecuting. Beginning July 1, 2016, TennCare fraud became a Class D felony punishable by up to four years in prison.

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, 2,673 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.”