A Knox County woman is charged with fraudulently obtaining medical benefits through TennCare.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) today announced the arrest of Deborah Curry, 45, of Knoxville.  The Knox County Sheriff's Office assisted in the arrest.

Curry was indicted on three counts of TennCare fraud and one count of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud for fraudulently obtaining medical assistance she was not entitled to at a local medical clinic.  On the same day this happened, she went to a local pharmacy and fraudulently obtained the painkiller Hydrocodone using TennCare to pay for it.

"Prescription drug abuse has been a problem in many areas of Tennessee, but we are committed to making sure TennCare is not abused in this way," Inspector General Deborah Y. Faulkner said.

Obtaining possession of a controlled substance by fraud is a Class D felony that carries a maximum of four years in prison. Fraudulently obtaining TennCare medical benefits is a Class E felony that carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison per charge.  District Attorney Randall E. Nichols will prosecute.

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