Robertson Co. Woman Charged 4th Time with TennCare Fraud

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A Robertson County woman is charged with TennCare fraud involving doctor shopping for prescription drugs for the fourth time in less than a year.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) today announced the arrest of Dana D. Barnett, 39, of Springfield, on an indictment in Davidson County. She’s charged with using TennCare healthcare insurance benefits to go to multiple doctors to obtain the painkillers Oxycodone and Hydrocodone.

Barnett’s first three arrests all came in December of 2015, in Robertson, Rutherford and Sumner Counties. In those cases, which were being investigated at the same time, she was also charged with doctor shopping for Oxycodone and Hydrocodone, using TennCare as payment.

District Attorney General Glenn R. Funk will be prosecuting. 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, 2,711 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.”