TENNCARE FRAUD ARRESTS: CHEATHAM, ROBERTSON CO. RESIDENTS

NASHVILLE – A married couple in Cheatham County and a Robertson County woman are charged today with TennCare fraud.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) today announced the arrest of Ray McCormack, 43 and his wife Deborah McCormack, 44, both indicted for defrauding the TennCare program of more than $26,000 in medical assistance for which they were not eligible. The charges against the McCormacks say that the husband had access to healthcare insurance through his employer but refused this coverage in January 2003, and did not report this to TennCare. Investigators say his wife twice failed to report access to insurance during annual recertification.

Cheatham County District Attorney General Dan Alsobrooks is prosecuting this case. If convicted the McCormack’s could be sentenced up to four years on the Class D felonies they are charged with.

In a separate arrest, 24-year old Marsha Marie Mangrum of Robertson County was charged with TennCare fraud after investigators say she used her TennCare card to pay for forged prescriptions at various pharmacies in Nashville. She was indicted on five counts of TennCare fraud and seven counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. If convicted, she could be sentenced to up to four years on each of the charges, which are class D and class E felonies. The Robertson County Sheriff’s Department assisted in the arrest and District Attorney General John Carney is prosecuting the case.

“We aim to make it clear that anyone who fails to report insurance benefits from an employer is committing TennCare fraud and could be indicted, arrested, convicted and sentenced to prison for TennCare fraud,” Inspector General Deborah Y. Faulkner said. “We are actively investigating TennCare members who are not eligible because they have healthcare insurance at their place of employment.”

Anyone can report suspected TennCare fraud by calling 1-800-433-3982 toll-free from anywhere in Tennessee, or log on to www.tennessee.gov/tenncare and follow the prompts that read “Report Fraud Now.”