Six Mid-State Residents Charged with TennCare Fraud

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Six people are charged separately with TennCare fraud in Davidson and McMinn counties, including a married couple. All six cases involve efforts to obtain prescription medication, using TennCare healthcare insurance benefits to pay for the drugs.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG), with the assistance of Metro Nashville and Athens Police, today announced the arrests:

• April Faye McElrath, also known as April F. Seeber, 40, of Nashville, charged with five counts of TennCare fraud. She is accused of using TennCare to obtain medical assistance benefits she was not entitled to and obtaining possession of the painkiller Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, by means of forgery.
• Lisa Yonts Daniel, 52, of Nashville, charged with six counts of fraudulently using TennCare to obtain the painkillers Oxycodone and Hydrocodone by doctor shopping, which involves using TennCare to visit multiple providers in a short period of time to obtain prescription drugs.
• Tanya Rose McCauley, also known as Tanya Rives or Tanya Adams, 32, of Goodlettsville, charged with three counts of fraudulently using TennCare to obtain the painkillers Oxycodone, Hydrocodone and Codeine by doctor shopping.
• Shannon Hernandez, also known as Shannon N. Mahmoud-Fahmy, 39, of Nashville, charged with two counts of fraudulently using TennCare to obtain Vyvanse, a stimulant most often used to treat attention deficit.
• Rachel Little, 32, of Athens, charged with fraudulently using TennCare to obtain the painkiller Tramadol by doctor shopping.
• Rachel Little’s husband, Wallace Little, 38, of Athens, charged with three counts of fraudulently using TennCare to obtain the painkiller Ultram, a brand version of Tramadol, by doctor shopping.

"Doctor shopping in order to obtain prescription medication for illegal use or distribution of that medication is a bad idea, especially when TennCare pays for it,” Inspector General Manny Tyndall said. “Negative conduct of this nature will ultimately result in negative consequences which includes felony arrest and criminal prosecution.”

District Attorney General Glenn R. Funk is prosecuting the Davidson County cases.  District Attorney General Stephen D. Crump will be prosecuting the McMinn County cases.  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, 2,710 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.”