SUMNER COUNTY WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO TENNCARE FRAUD

NASHVILLE – A Sumner County woman has been convicted of TennCare fraud for obtaining drugs paid for by TennCare, some of which she intended to sell.

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) today announced the conviction of Elizabeth Meeley, 42, on a charge of defrauding TennCare. Meeley was accused of committing TennCare fraud by obtaining a prescription for hydrocodone paid for by TennCare, while knowingly concealing that she planned to unlawfully sell a portion of the prescription.

Meeley waived indictment in Sumner County Criminal Court, pleading guilty to charges in the case. Meeley was sentenced to a one year on the TennCare fraud charge which will run concurrent with an eight year sentence on previous drug charges. She will serve her sentence on supervised probation through the community corrections program. Meeley will be on house arrest with a requirement of wearing an electronic monitoring device at all times. In addition, Meeley will be required to submit to random drug tests.

“We are continuing to work closely with the local law enforcement and prosecutors in pursuing the illegal trafficking of TennCare prescription medications,” Inspector General Deborah Faulkner said.

Sumner County District Attorney Ray Whitley prosecuted the case.

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.”