A former local woman faces charges of TennCare fraud for the second time this year.
The Office of Inspector General and the Cannon County Sheriff’s Office said Ashley Hope Morgan, 28, of Readyville was arrested last week on an indictment charging her with three counts of fraudulently obtaining controlled substances by doctor shopping for the painkillers Oxycodone and Hydrocodone, and using TennCare to pay for the visits.
Morgan was previously charged with doctor shopping in DeKalb County in April. The case is still pending in DeKalb County Criminal Court. Morgan was among eleven persons named in sealed indictments on by the DeKalb County Grand Jury on April 6, when her address was given as Gassaway Road, Liberty.
According to the indictment, Morgan unlawfully obtained or attempted to obtain a prescription from a healthcare provider and failed to disclose to that healthcare provider that she had received a prescription for a controlled substance of similar therapeutic use from another healthcare provider within the previous 30 days, and she did use TennCare to obtain the benefit, constituting the offense TennCare Fraud.
"When individuals go from doctor to doctor to obtain prescription drugs through TennCare benefits, state dollars are involved in illegal drug sales," Inspector General Manny Tyndall said. "We appreciate and value the hard work of the healthcare providers and the local law enforcement across the state and their efforts in helping us develop these cases."
TennCare fraud is a Class E felony carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison per charge. District Attorney General Jennings H. Jones is prosecuting the Cannon County case.
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, 2,455 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 go to http://www.tn.gov/finance/topic/fa-oig.
