Knox Co. Woman Charged with TennCare Fraud

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A Knox County woman is charged with TennCare fraud in connection with falsely reporting her income and failing to disclose her marital marriage in order to obtain TennCare benefits.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG), with the assistance of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, today announced the arrest of Bobbie Latasha Smith, 30, of Knoxville. Smith is charged with TennCare fraud and theft of services over $1,000. An indictment accuses her of falsely reporting her income, and not reporting her marriage in order to obtain TennCare healthcare and prescription drug benefits which she otherwise would not have been eligible to receive.

“It’s troubling when someone with other resources tries to access a program intended for people who truly need help accessing healthcare insurance benefits,” Inspector General Manny Tyndall said.  “We get tips on cases like this across the state and follow up on each one of them.”

District Attorney General Charme P. Allen 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, 2,733 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.”