FENTRESS CO. WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO TENNCARE FRAUD

NASHVILLE, TN – A Fentress County woman has been sentenced to a year in prison, after pleading guilty to TennCare fraud.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG), an agency separate from TennCare, today announced that Bobbie Olivas Alvarado, 31, of Jamestown, appeared in court on two counts of felony TennCare fraud. She was accused of selling the painkiller Hydrocodone to an undercover office with the Pickett County Sheriff’s Department. The drug had been paid for by TennCare. Alvarado was served with the charges at the Tennessee Prison for Women near Nashville, where she is lodged for unrelated offenses.

"We are going to continue to work hard to place charges against anyone we find misusing TennCare,” Inspector General Deborah Y. Faulkner said. “People are getting the message that selling drugs paid for by TennCare won't be tolerated."

Acting District Attorney Anthony Craighead prosecuted this case.

Through the OIG “Cash for Tips” program established by the Legislature, Tennesseans can get cash rewards for TennCare fraud tips that lead to convictions. Anyone can report suspected TennCare fraud by calling 1-800-433-3982 toll-free from anywhere in Tennessee, or log on to www.tncarefraud.tennessee.gov and follow the prompts that read “Report Fraud Now.”