SECOND WOMAN ARRESTED FOR TENNCARE FRAUD

UNDOCUMENTED ALIEN USED WOMAN'S TENNCARE CARD

NASHVILLE – A second Davidson County woman has been charged with TennCare fraud in connection with a case involving an undocumented alien using the woman’s TennCare card.

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) today announced the arrest of Noemi Lopez Ramirez, 25, of Nashville. An indictment charges her with two counts with felony theft of services and TennCare fraud for obtaining medical services using another woman’s TennCare card. That woman, 35-year-old Deborah Garcia of Nashville, was charged with TennCare fraud in July. The value of medical services obtained through TennCare was less than $10,000. Both charges against Ramirez are Class D felonies, punishable by up to four years in prison. Bond was set at $15,000.

The arrest warrant alleges that when the two women entered a local clinic in July, Ramirez registered as Garcia, a TennCare enrollee, who assisted Ramirez in registering. Ramirez was not on TennCare, but she was pregnant and has given birth. The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services is providing for care of the child. Davidson County District Attorney Tory Johnson is prosecuting.

As required by Federal law, an illegal immigrant is entitled to emergency care, which all Medicaid programs are required to pay for. The Federal requirement extends only to emergency care required to stabilize a person’s physical condition.

“This case came to our attention through a hotline tip and it’s a perfect example of how the citizens of Tennessee can help stop TennCare fraud,” Inspector General Deborah Faulkner said.

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.”