Hamblen Co. Woman Charged With Tenncare Fraud For 3rd Time

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A Hamblen County woman is charged for the third time with TennCare fraud involving TennCare doctor shopping, which is the crime of going from doctor to doctor to obtain prescription drugs, using TennCare as payment.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG), with the assistance of the Hamblen County Sheriff’s Office, today announced the arrest of Jennifer D. White, 32, of Newport. She is charged with fraudulently using TennCare to obtain controlled substances by doctor shopping.

In April, a Greene County Grand Jury charged her with three counts of doctor shopping for the painkiller Oxycodone. White was first arrested in February on an indictment in Cocke County charging her with two counts of doctor shopping. In all instances, TennCare paid for either the clinical visits or the prescriptions.

“Eliminating the abuse of TennCare benefits, especially to obtain pain medications, is one of our main priorities.”  Inspector General Manny Tyndall said.  “Local police, providers and the healthcare community are with us in our effort to weed out this problem within the TennCare program.”

TennCare fraud is a Class E felony carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison per charge. District Attorney General Dan E. Armstrong will prosecute the Hamblen County case.

The OIG, which is separate from TennCare, began full operation in February 2005 and has investigated cases leading to over $3 million being repaid to TennCare, with a total estimated cost avoidance of over $163.6 million for TennCare, according to latest figures. To date, over 2,300 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 log on to Office of Inspector General  and follow the prompts that read "Report TennCare Fraud."