OVERTON CO. MAN CHARGED WITH ELEVEN COUNTS OF TENNCARE FRAUDNASHVILLE, TN - An Overton County man has been charged with eleven counts of TennCare fraud. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) today announced the indictment and arrest of Gary Garrett, 42, of Byrdstown. 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 of 2005, 316 people have been charged with TennCare fraud. The OIG is an agency separate from the TennCare bureau. Garrett is charged with presenting fraudulent prescriptions to a pharmacy in Livingston for the addictive painkiller Oxycontin along with another painkiller, Phenergan, and Xanax, an anti-anxiety medication. Garrett used his TennCare benefits to pay for the prescriptions. The arrest was assisted by the U. S. Marshal’s Task Force and the Pickett County Sheriff’s Office. “We’re working with the law enforcement community – from Federal marshals to local police officers – to work closely to identify, investigate, and prosecute any one who tries to take advantage of TennCare,” Inspector General Deborah Y. Faulkner said. If convicted, Garret could be sentenced up to two years on each Class E felony TennCare charge. 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.” |
