Sumner Co. Woman Charged with TennCare Drug Fraud

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A Sumner County woman is charged with TennCare fraud for using program benefits to pay for fraudulent prescriptions.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG), with the assistance of the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office, today announced the arrest of Jill A. Kirby Wheeler, 36, of Hendersonville. She is charged with two counts of TennCare fraud in an indictment accusing her of presenting a pharmacy with forged prescriptions for the anti-anxiety medication Adderall and using TennCare to pay for the forgeries.

“We are becoming increasingly proactive in our investigations,” Inspector General Manny Tyndall said. “The Sumner County Sheriff’s Office is one of many state law enforcement agencies contributing to our aggressive effort to thwart TennCare fraud.”

TennCare fraud is a Class E felony carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison per charge.  District Attorney General Lawrence R. Whitley is prosecuting.

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, 2,587 people have been charged with TennCare fraud.

Anyone can report suspected TennCare fraud by calling 1-800-433-3982 toll-free from anywhere in Tennessee, or log on to www.tn.gov/tnoig/ and follow the prompts that read “Report TennCare Fraud.”