Davidson Co. Woman Charged 2nd Time with TennCare Fraud

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A Davidson County woman is charged for the second time with TennCare fraud involving prescription drugs.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG), with the assistance of Metro Nashville Police, today announced the arrest of Kiara Janae Steverson, 25 of Nashville. An indictment in Davidson County charges her with seven counts of fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance by doctor shopping, or using TennCare to visit multiple doctors in a short time period to obtain prescriptions. Steverson is accused of doctor shopping for painkiller Oxycodone and she is charged with obtaining a Schedule II controlled substance by fraud.

Steverson was arrested just last month on an indictment in Sumner County, charging her with two counts of doctor shopping for the painkillers Hydrocodone and Tramadol, using TennCare to pay for either the clinical visits and/or the prescriptions. The investigation of the Davidson County incidents developed in the wake of the Sumner County investigation.  

“Eliminating the abuse of TennCare benefits, especially to obtain pain medications, is one of our main priorities,” Inspector General Manny Tyndall said. “Local police, providers and the healthcare community are with us in our effort to weed out this problem within the TennCare program.”

District Attorney General Glenn R. Funk is prosecuting.  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, 2,720 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.”