Two Davidson Co. Women Charged with TennCare Fraud

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Two people in Davidson County are charged with TennCare fraud.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) today announced the arrest of Nicole Leigh Muench, 26, and Metrelle Dvonnta Burton, 30, both of Nashville.

Muench is charged with four counts of TennCare fraud in connection with knowingly using a TennCare member’s personal information in order to obtain medical services paid for by TennCare, which she was not entitled to receive.

Burton is charged with seven counts of doctor shopping, which involves visiting multiple doctors in a short period of time to obtain prescription drugs. The pills involved in the case are the pain medications Oxycodone and Hydrocodone. She’s also charged with obtaining a controlled substance by fraud.

“We continue to investigate TennCare fraud tips that come to us from across the state,” Inspector General Manny Tyndall said. “We encourage anyone with information regarding TennCare fraud to call our hotlines – we follow up on each tip.”

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, 2,731 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.”