Monroe Co. Man Charged with TennCare Fraud

NASHVILLE, Tenn. –  A man wanted for TennCare fraud has been arrested after eluding authorities for ten months.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG), with the assistance of the McMinn County Sheriff’s Office, today announced the arrest of Tyler C. Knox, 22, of Sweetwater.

Knox was charged in September of last year in McMinn County with four counts of doctor shopping for the painkiller Hydrocodone, using TennCare healthcare insurance benefits as payment for the drugs.

“Crossing into another county to try to get prescription drugs does not prevent a person from being arrested for trying to stock up on prescriptions for painkillers,” Inspector General Manny Tyndall said. “We will continue to go after these individuals every time they try to commit fraud against TennCare, which is vitally important to many Tennesseans.”

District Attorney General Stephen Crump is prosecuting.  Until June 30, 2016, TennCare fraud was classified as a Class E felony carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison per charge. As of July 1, 2016, TennCare fraud was changed to 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, 2,681 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.”