Department of Finance & Administration
Mark Emkes, Commissioner

PUTNAM COUNTY WOMAN CHARGED WITH TENNCARE DRUG FRAUD

NASHVILLE - A Putnam County woman is charged with TennCare fraud for using the program to pay for fraudulent prescriptions.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) today announced the arrest of Kristina M. Carroll, 24, of Cookeville, who was indicted on two counts of attempted TennCare fraud.

The charges accuse Carroll of posing as an employee of a doctor’s office, calling in a prescription to a pharmacy in Cookeville to obtain the addictive painkiller Lortab.  She’s also accused of presenting a fraudulent prescription for the same drug at a different pharmacy. She attempted to have TennCare pay for both of the fraudulent prescriptions.

“We are working with local police and providers to help us get this kind of activity out of the TennCare program,” Inspector General Deborah Y. Faulkner said. “We’re committed to eliminating the incidence of people fraudulently obtaining drugs and letting TennCare pick up the tab.”

Penalties for the charges against Carroll include up to two years per charge for the TennCare fraud charge.  District Attorney Randall A. York is prosecuting.

The OIG, a law enforcement agency separate from TennCare, began full operation in February 2005 and has worked cases leading to the arrest of over 760 individuals for TennCare fraud, with nearly $1 million paid in restitution to TennCare, and total estimated cost avoidance in TennCare of over $122 million, according to latest figures. 

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.tncarefraud.tennessee.gov and follow the prompts that read "Report TennCare Fraud."