TWO MID-STATE WOMEN PLEAD GUILTY TO TENNCARE FRAUD

NASHVILLE, TN – A Rhea County woman has pleaded guilty to TennCare fraud and must repay the state almost $14,000 for medical benefits.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG), an agency separate from TennCare, today announced that Candy Newman, 38, of Spring City, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of services and one count of fraudulently obtaining TennCare benefits. Newman received three years in prison suspended to six years supervised probation, contingent on restitution to the state for benefits received totaling $13,909.40.

Newman was accused of seeking and receiving emergency department treatment at a Chattanooga hospital, using another person’s TennCare card. District Attorney William H. Cox prosecuted the case.

“It is particularly troubling when someone who’s not eligible for TennCare tries to find a way to abuse the program,” said Inspector General Deborah Y. Faulkner “When we find people doing so, we will prosecute them.”

In an unrelated Franklin County case, Joyce Hercules, 50, of Winchester, pleaded guilty to obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. Hercules was sentenced to a prison term of three years suspended to probation and was ordered to pay $2,000 in fines and must perform 16 hours of community service.

Hercules had been indicted on one count of obtaining or attempting to obtain a controlled substance by fraud, and one count of TennCare fraud. She was accused of giving another person her prescription for a pain medication and her TennCare card, and it was later discovered that the prescription had been altered. District Attorney J. Michael Taylor prosecuted.

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.”