Alabama Woman Charged with TennCare Fraud in 3 Tenn. Counties

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – An Alabama woman is charged in indictments in Williamson, Davidson and Rutherford counties involving doctor shopping for controlled substances, using TennCare as payment.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG), with the assistance of sheriff’s officers in Williamson and Rutherford counties and Metro Nashville police, today announced the arrest of Brittany Rider Griffin, 26, of Chickasaw, Alabama.

Griffin is charged in Williamson County with three counts of fraudulently using TennCare to obtain the painkiller Hydrocodone by doctor shopping, which is visiting multiple doctors in a 30-day period to obtain the same or similar controlled substances. She was then transported to Davidson County, where she was served with two counts of doctor shopping for hydrocodone and then to Rutherford County, where she was served with three counts of doctor shopping, one count of TennCare fraud and one count of Identity Theft. She’s accused of submitting a forged prescription to a local pharmacy using the name and DEA number of her provider and using TennCare as payment. The charges in all three counties are pending adjudication.

“When we’re working a case on a suspect, we sometimes have evidence about criminal activity involving more than one county, or more than one instance altogether, and indictments are handed down separately, as in this case,” Inspector General Manny Tyndall said. “We appreciate and value the hard work of the physicians across the state and their efforts in helping us develop these cases.”

TennCare fraud is a Class E felony carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison per charge.  District Attorney General Kim Helper will be prosecuting the Williamson County case, District Attorney General Glenn Funk will be prosecuting the Davidson County case, and District Attorney General Jennings H. Jones is prosecuting the Rutherford County case.

The OIG, which is separate from TennCare, began full operation in February 2005 and has investigated cases leading to more than $3 million being repaid to TennCare, with a total estimated cost avoidance of more than $163.6 million for TennCare, according to latest figures. To date, 2,463 people have been charged with TennCare fraud.

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 go to https://www.tn.gov/tnoig.