Knox County Man Charged 3rd Time with TennCare Fraud

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A Knox County man is charged for the third time with doctor shopping for prescriptions, using TennCare state healthcare insurance benefits as payment.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG), with the assistance of the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office, today announced the arrest of Alan Everett Goetsch, 66, of Knoxville. He is charged in Bradley County with using TennCare to visit multiple providers in a short period of time in order to obtain prescriptions for the painkiller Oxycodone. Goetsch was being held in the Monroe County Jail on unrelated charges and was later transported to the Bradley County Jail where he was served with the new charges.

Goetsch was first arrested last December after being on the run for 16 months on charges in Knox County of using TennCare to doctor shop for the painkillers Hydrocodone and Oxycodone. He pleaded guilty to these charges last month and was sentenced to five years supervised probation. He was later served with charges from Monroe County, where he was accused of using TennCare to doctor shop for prescription drugs.

“Tennessee has zero tolerance for people using TennCare benefits to illegally obtain controlled substances.” Inspector General Kim Harmon said. “TennCare resources should be protected and preserved in order to help those truly in need of assistance.”

District Attorney General Stephen D. Crump is prosecuting the Bradley County case. TennCare fraud is now 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, 3,035 people have been charged with TennCare fraud.

Through the OIG Cash for Tips Program established by the Legislature, Tennesseans can get cash rewards for TennCare fraud tips that lead to convictions.  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.”