Three Convicted in Separate Cases of TennCare Fraud-

NASHVILLE, TN - Three people charged in separate TennCare fraud cases have been ordered to pay $15,884.93 in restitution to the state and court fines.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) charged and provided prosecution evidence in the judgments:

• Gene Gaylord Dougherty, 31, of Paris, TN, a registered nurse from Henry County, was charged in May of this year with illegally dispensing medication.  Dougherty worked as a nurse at McKenzie Regional Hospital when the crime occurred.  The evidence showed he found a way to illegally dispense medication in amounts not approved by prescribing medical professionals at the hospital, causing TennCare to pay for unauthorized medications.  Dougherty pleaded guilty to theft of services and was ordered by the courts to pay TennCare restitution in the amount of $9,881.93.  Dougherty was also placed on probation for four years.  This case was prosecuted by District Attorney General Hansel J. McCadams.
• Jacklynn Gayle Biggers-Bailey, 44, of Dyersburg, was arrested last April and charged with TennCare fraud for using benefits to obtain the painkiller Morphine, later selling a portion of the drugs.  Biggers-Bailey has pleaded guilty to TennCare fraud.  She was ordered to pay a $4,000 fine and $350 in drug fees.  She has been placed on supervised probation for four years and her TennCare benefits have been revoked.  This case was prosecuted by District Attorney General Phillip Bivens.
• Tonya Goodall, 24, of Lebanon, was arrested last May and charged with using her TennCare benefits to obtain Suboxone, which is a drug used to break the addiction to heroin by giving the same opiate effect without addictive qualities.  On two separate occasions she apparently sold the drug to an undercover agent.  Goodall has pleaded guilty to TennCare fraud and was ordered to pay a fine of $2,000 and a $600 drug fee.  In addition, she was placed on one year supervised probation with her TennCare benefits forfeited.  This case was prosecuted by District Attorney General Tom P. Thompson.

The OIG, which is separate from TennCare, began full operation in February 2005 and has investigated cases leading to over $3.5 million paid in restitution and recoupment to TennCare, with a total estimated cost avoidance of over $173 million for the TennCare program, according to latest figures.  To date, over 2,000 people have been charged with TennCare fraud.

Through the OIG Cash for Tips Program established by the Legislature, Tennesseans can get cash rewards for TennCare fraud tips that lead to convictions.  Anyone can report suspected TennCare fraud by calling 1-800-433-3982 toll-free from anywhere in Tennessee, or log on to www.tn.gov/tnoig/ and follow the prompts that read "Report TennCare Fraud."