Hamblen Co. Woman Charged 2nd Time with TennCare Fraud

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

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) today announced the arrest of 32-year old Jennifer Davis White, of Morristown. 

A Greene County indictment charges her with three counts of fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance by doctor shopping, or going to several providers in a short time period to obtain controlled substances and using TennCare as payment.  The drug involved was the painkiller Oxycodone.

White was arrested just two months ago, in February, on an indictment in Cocke County, charging her with two counts of fraudulently using TennCare to obtain controlled substances by doctor shopping.

“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.”

TennCare fraud is a Class E felony, carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison per charge. District Attorney General Dan E. Armstrong will be prosecuting the Greene County case.

The OIG, which is separate from TennCare, began full operation in February 2005 and has investigated cases leading to over $3 million being repaid to TennCare, with a total estimated cost avoidance of over $163.6 million for TennCare, according to latest figures. To date, 2,335 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."