Monroe Co. Woman Charged with TennCare Drug Fraud

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A Monroe County woman is charged with doctor shopping for prescription drugs, using TennCare as payment for the pills.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG), with assistance from Monroe County Sheriff’s Officers, today announced the arrest of Tiffany Ballard, 29, of Sweetwater. She is charged with visiting multiple healthcare providers in a short time period to obtain prescriptions for the painkillers Hydrocodone and Oxycodone, using TennCare as payment. Ballard is charged with three counts of TennCare fraud by doctor shopping.

“Tennessee is fortunate to have the laws and the authority to pursue people who are doctor shopping for drugs, whether it’s for personal abuse or with the intent of distribution,” Inspector General Manny Tyndall said. “We intend to pursue these cases with all our resources.”

District Attorney General Stephen D. Crump is prosecuting.  Until June 30, 2016, TennCare fraud was classified as a Class E felony carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison per charge.  As of July 1, 2016, TennCare fraud was changed to a Class D felony punishable by up to four years in prison.

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, 2,674 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 visit the website and follow prompts that read “Report TennCare Fraud.”