PUTNAM COUNTY WOMAN AGREES TO REPAY $24,000 IN RESTITUTION TO TENNCARE

NASHVILLE, TN – A Putnam County woman has agreed to repay TennCare almost $25,000 after her indictment for TennCare fraud.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) today announced that Cynthia Lynn Huff, 47, of Cookeville pleaded guilty to the charges placed against her in July.  She was sentenced to two years, to be deferred if she repays the full restitution.  She is on probation for six years and if she fails to repay the money or violates probation, she could be ordered to serve the full two years.   

In the July indictment, Huff was accused of failing to report she had access to private health insurance, which would have made her ineligible for TennCare.  The indictment said that from April 2000 to August 2002, Huff received over $24,000 in TennCare benefits she was not entitled to.  District Attorney General William E. Gibson prosecuted the case.

“We continue to work aggressively to identify and prosecute TennCare fraud,” Inspector General Deborah Y. Faulkner said.  “People are getting the message that the consequences of getting caught can include prison or repaying TennCare for your benefits.”

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.”