DICKSON COUNTY COUPLE ARRESTED FOR SELLING DRUGS
PAID FOR BY TENNCARE

NASHVILLE – Two TennCare enrollees were charged today with felony TennCare fraud in connection with allegedly selling prescription drugs paid for by TennCare. The Office of TennCare Inspector General (OIG) announced the arrest of 48-year-old Donald Ray Tidwell and his wife 45-year-old Darlene Flora Tidwell of White Bluff. The couple allegedly sold prescription medications paid for by TennCare in excess of $10,000. The medications included hydrocodone, a powerful pain medication.

“We are not going to tolerate TennCare fraud, especially when people are subsidizing illegal narcotics trafficking with taxpayer funds,” Inspector General Deborah Y. Faulkner said. “This activity takes money away from people who need health care services and mars the integrity of the TennCare program, but we are committed to tracking it down and pressing charges.”

Dickson County District Attorney General Dan M. Alsobrooks is prosecuting. “We are on the lookout for TennCare cases, and we are serious about helping the OIG stop this kind fraud in our district,” Assistant District Attorney General Suzanne M. Lockert said.

If convicted, Donald Tidwell could face up to 15 years and his wife Darlene could face up to 12 years in prison.

TennCare is the state’s health insurance program for 1.3 million people who are poor, disabled or uninsured. The Office of TennCare Inspector General was formed in 2004 by Governor Phil Bredesen bring more aggressive elements of law enforcement into the effort against TennCare fraud.