East Tennessee Woman Charged with TennCare Drug Fraud

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A McMinn County woman is charged with TennCare fraud involving doctor shopping – which involves going from doctor to doctor to get prescriptions for drugs, using TennCare as payment.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG), with assistance from Etowah Police, today announced the arrest of Heather Dillard, 31, of Etowah. She is charged with three counts of fraudulently obtaining prescription drugs by doctor shopping for the painkillers Oxycodone and Hydrocodone. TennCare was used as payment.

“The abuse of prescription drugs is a public health threat and can carry hefty penalties when a person is caught,” Inspector General Manny Tyndall said. “This type of fraud in TennCare is a blatant abuse of taxpayer dollars and we are out to stop this activity.”

TennCare fraud is a Class E felony carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison per charge.  District Attorney General Stephen D. Crump 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, 2,603 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.”