DAVIDSON CO. WOMAN INDICTED FOR TENNCARE FRAUD

NASHVILLE - A Davidson County woman has been indicted locally for defrauding the TennCare program of more than $7000. The Office of TennCare Inspector General (OIG) announced the arrest of 43-year-old Brenda Gail Mitchell of Nashville, an environmental tech at Vanderbilt Medical School.

A three count indictment charges that over a three-year period, Mitchell committed theft of property and services – both felonies - by intentionally failing to report that she had healthcare insurance through her employer, making her ineligible for TennCare. Investigators say even though Mitchell had insurance through Vanderbilt, she used TennCare to pay for her medical bills. The value of the TennCare benefits unlawfully obtained is more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) but less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

“We are hoping to make it clear that anyone who fails to report insurance benefits from an employer will be indicted and arrested for TennCare fraud,” Inspector General Deborah Faulkner said. “We are actively investigating TennCare members who are not eligible because they have healthcare insurance in their workplace.”

If convicted, Mitchell could be sentenced to up to eight years on the charges, which are both Class D felonies. Bond was set at $25,000. Davidson County District Attorney Torry Johnson is prosecuting the case.

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.”

TennCare is the state’s managed care health insurance program for 1.3 million people who are poor, disabled or uninsured.