Davidson Co. Woman Charged with TennCare Fraud

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A Davidson County woman is charged in nearby Sumner County with doctor shopping for prescription drugs, using TennCare as payment for the pills.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG), with the assistance of Metro Nashville Police and Sumner Sheriff’s Officers, today announced the arrest of Kiara J. Steverson, 25 of Nashville. Steverson is charged with visiting multiple doctors in a short time period to obtain controlled substances, using TennCare to pay for either the clinical visits or the prescriptions. She is charged with two counts of TennCare fraud by doctor shopping for the painkillers Hydrocodone and Tramadol.

“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.

District Attorney General Lawrence R. Whitley is prosecuting. TennCare fraud is now a Class D felony, raising the maximum penalty from two 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, 2,696 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.”