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.
The OIG, a law enforcement agency separate from TennCare, began full operation in February 2005 and has worked cases leading to the arrest of over 600 individuals for TennCare fraud, with over $700,000 paid in restitution to TennCare, and total estimated cost avoidance in TennCare of over $75 million, according to latest figures.
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.tncarefraud.tennessee.gov and follow the prompts that read "Report TennCare Fraud."
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User Comments
Glad you got her,Do The Crime and Pay The Time. Because of her and other people like her I now no longer have any Insurance. A lot of other people are just like me and we don't have the money to get insurance. Hope she has to pay every penny of the amount back to the state. She should be in my shoes. Since I was shot and lost my kidney and part of my pancrease and all of my spleen. It hurt me since I have no ammunity to getting sick. This person and alot of other doesn't care about other people and have no respect for themselves or anyone else. People like this should have to pay our doctor bills and pay for our medicine. Thank You. Martha AAE8
I wonder how much Jesus charged his patients, for the medical care & treatment that he provided?
..."Give to Caesar that which belongs to Caesar. And to God what belongs to Him.
And always remember that there is always only ONE side to every story, never 2...
Guilty until proven innocent in a court of law...
By the way... TennCare's monthly co-payments do not cost much more than some internet providers in our local area.
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