Bedford County Man Charged 2nd Time With TennCare Fraud

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A Bedford County man is charged in Coffee County with doctor shopping for prescription drugs, using TennCare as payment. 

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) today announced the arrest of Samuel L. Harris, Jr., 40, of Shelbyville. A Coffee County Grand Jury indicted Harris on two counts of fraudulently obtaining controlled substances by doctor shopping and two counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud.      

Harris was served with the charges at the Bedford County Jail, where he is serving time for his first arrest, in February of this year, when he was charged in Bedford County with three counts of doctor shopping for drugs, using TennCare as payment. He pleaded guilty to the charges in May and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

 “We cracking down on people using TennCare to finance their drug habit or business,” Inspector General Manny Tyndall said.  “Healthcare providers and local law enforcement officers across the state are working with us to investigate and prosecute these types of crimes.”

District Attorney General Robert Carter prosecuted this 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, 2,434 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.