Rutherford County Man Charged 2nd Time with TennCare Doctor Shopping

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – After being on the run for six months, a Rutherford County man has been apprehended and charged for the second time with TennCare fraud.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG), with assistance from Rutherford County Sheriff’s Officers, announced the arrest of Ronald B. Johnson, 57, of Murfreesboro. He was indicted in August of last year and charged in connection with using TennCare to doctor shop for the painkiller Oxycodone, using TennCare as payment.

Doctor shopping is the crime of going to multiple doctors in a 30-day period to obtain the same or similar prescription drugs and using TennCare as payment with the physician, the pharmacy or both.

Johnson was first arrested in February of 2011 when he was charged in Rutherford County with three counts of TennCare doctor shopping, using TennCare as payment.

“We are increasingly proactive in our investigations,” Inspector General Manny Tyndall said.  “The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office is one of the many state law enforcement agencies contributing to our aggressive effort to thwart TennCare fraud.”

TennCare fraud is a Class E felony carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison per charge.  District Attorney General Jennings H. Jones is prosecuting.

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, more than 2,539 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 go to www.tn.gov/tnoig/  and follow the prompts that read “Report TennCare Fraud.”