CLAY COUNTY MAN CHARGED WITH TENNCARE DRUG FRAUD

NASHVILLE – A Clay County man is charged with TennCare fraud for obtaining a prescription medication through the TennCare program with the intent to sell the drugs. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) today announced the arrest of Jeffrey Adam Head, 28, of Moss in Clay.

Governor Phil Bredesen created the OIG, one of the first units of its kind in the nation, in 2004. Since it became operational in February 2005, 265 people have been charged with TennCare fraud.

Head was arrested on an indictment alleging he fraudulently obtained a prescription for Endocet, a brand drug version of the pain killer oxycodone, and he used his TennCare medical benefits to pay for the prescription. The indictment alleges that Head obtained the medication through TennCare with the intent of selling a portion of the medication.

“The illegal trafficking of TennCare drugs is a problem across the state, and we simply will not tolerate it,” Inspector General Deborah Y. Faulkner said. “Enrollees who participate in selling drugs paid for by TennCare – and those who buy them – should understand this is a serious crime we intend to prosecute.”

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.”