TWO MARSHALL COUNTY WOMEN CHARGED WITH TENNCARE FRAUD

BEDFORD CO. WOMAN HAS TENNCARE CHARGES ADDED TO CASE

NASHVILLE, TN – Two Marshall County women have been charged with TennCare prescription drug fraud.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) today announced the indictments. 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, 298 people have been charged with TennCare fraud.

Anna Luna Jett, 33 of Lewisburg faces seven counts of TennCare fraud, seven counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, and seven counts of obtaining a legend drug by fraud. She’s accused of presenting fraudulent prescriptions for Lortab, a brand version of the painkiller hydrocodone, as well as an antibiotic and using her TennCare card to pay for the drugs.

Another Lewisburg woman, Pamela Roden, 23, is charged with three counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, three counts of TennCare fraud and three counts of obtaining a legend drug by fraud. She’s accused of presenting fraudulent prescriptions for the same drugs – Lortab and an antibiotic – and paying for them with TennCare.

In an unrelated case in Bedford County, TennCare fraud charges have been added to the case against 20-year old Margie Drennan. She’s accused now of TennCare Fraud and attempting to obtain possession of a controlled substance by fraud. She also faces unrelated charges in Bedford County.

TennCare fraud and forgery are Class E felonies, which carry a sentence of up to two years in prison per charge. Obtaining or attempting to obtain controlled substances by fraud is a Class D felony that carries a sentence of up to fours years in prison per charge. District Attorney Mike McCown will be prosecuting all three cases.

“We are working diligently to stop abuse of the TennCare program – especially in the area of prescription drugs,” Inspector General Deborah Faulkner said. “We are pursuing dozens of prescription cases across the state and plan to prosecute anyone and everyone we find to be abusing this system.”

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.”