TENNCARE ENROLLEE CHARGED WITH MURDER, SELLING TENNCARE DRUGS

NASHVILLE, TN – A TennCare enrollee is charged with second-degree murder in connection with the morphine overdose death of a woman he sold the drug to after he obtained it from a pharmacy using his TennCare benefits. 

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) today announced the arrest of Jason Emerson Bergey, 30, of Lenoir City.  He is charged with selling morphine paid for by TennCare to 25-year old Samantha Ann McClean, also of Lenoir City.   Her body was discovered April 5 in the apartment of another man, who also bought morphine from Bergey. The cause of McClean’s death was found to be a morphine overdose.  An investigation led to Bergey as the source of the morphine, a narcotic analgesic used to relieve severe pain.

Governor Phil Bredesen created the Office of Inspector General, one of the first units of its kind in the nation, in 2004.  Since it became operational in February 2005, 224 people have been charged with TennCare fraud, leading to 56 convictions for TennCare fraud. 

“Certain prescription drugs are classified as controlled substances because they have a dangerous potential for abuse and can have deadly consequences,” Inspector General Deborah Faulkner said. “TennCare pays for such medications only when prescribed under the direction and supervision of a physician and we are committed to pursuing those cases involving fraud and abuse especially when dangerous drugs are involved.”

District Attorney Scott McCluen will be prosecuting the case against Bergey.  If convicted he could serve up to 2 years in prison.

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.”

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.”