Authorities this week charged women from Nashville, Marshall County, and South Carolina with TennCare fraud.
Taborah Gray, 38, allegedly committed TennCare fraud in connection with prescriptions for controlled substances, according to a press release from the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration.
“She is charged with two counts of TennCare fraud, which is a class D felony. Investigators say Gray stole a prescription pad along with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency number from her employer; and that she used them to pass two separate fraudulent prescriptions for the painkiller Hydrocodone,” according to the press release.
“TennCare was used as payment at the doctor’s office and at the pharmacy.”
If convicted Gray could face penalties of up to a maximum of 24 years in prison for the two counts of TennCare fraud. District Attorney General Ray Whitley of Sumner County is prosecuting, the press release went on to say.
Meanwhile, a Marshall County woman, Annie R. Himes of Lewisburg, allegedly committed TennCare fraud involving doctor shopping for drugs, according to another state press release.
“She’s charged with three counts of TennCare fraud, a class D felony, with two counts filed in Maury County and the other in Lawrence County,” the press release went on to say.
“Investigators say that on three separate occasions, Himes knowingly obtained medical care and a controlled substance prescription and each time failed to tell providers about the other prescriptions.”
If convicted on all three counts, Himes could face penalties of up to a maximum of 36 years in prison. District Attorney General Brent Cooper is prosecuting, the press release added.
Authorities also charged a South Carolina woman, Amber J. Shissler, with TennCare fraud for allegedly claiming to live in Tennessee in order to obtain TennCare healthcare insurance benefits, according to a press release.
“Investigators say Shissler was residing in Herndon, Kentucky when she reported to the state that she lived in Tennessee,” the press release stated.
“TennCare paid $4,297.27 on her behalf. She later moved to South Carolina, but is no longer receiving TennCare benefits.”
If convicted, Shissler could face up to a maximum of 24 years in prison for the charges, which are class D felonies. District Attorney General John W. Carney of Montgomery County, the press release said.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
And the theft goes on and on.
Why don’t these thieves get identified before they get started?
Government at work.