INSPECTOR GENERAL OFFERS CASH REWARDS FOR TENNCARE FRAUD TIPS

NASHVILLE – The investigative unit charged with going after TennCare fraud has a new tool for getting leads on people who are abusing the state’s health care program for the poor and disabled. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) will be offering cash rewards for information that leads to convictions for TennCare enrollee fraud.

“The best tips that have led to criminal prosecution have come from people who have personal knowledge of TennCare abuse - sometimes even family members,” Inspector General Deborah Faulkner said. “This is a program that has worked well for law enforcement agencies. We feel this might be another incentive for people to report TennCare fraud.”

The 2005 General Assembly passed legislation to enable cash incentives to assist the OIG, which was created in 2004 by Governor Phil Bredesen to investigate and prosecute TennCare fraud. Senator Jerry Cooper of McMinnville was the chief sponsor of the measure. The OIG is now promulgating the rules to govern the program. Once the administrative rules are in place, they will be published at the agency’s Web site at http://www.state.tn.us/finance/tennoig/fraudabuse.html.

The OIG’s investigators have collectively over 250 years of law enforcement experience. They have statewide jurisdiction to investigate criminal fraud and abuse of the TennCare program or any other violations of state criminal law related to the operation of TennCare. Since field operations began in February of this year, OIG Special Agents have made 59 arrests of people committing fraud against TennCare. All of the arrests are detailed on the State’s Web site at http://www.state.tn.us/finance/newsrel/newsroom.html.

The proceeds of TennCare fraud are subject to either criminal or civil forfeiture. Local district attorneys now have authority under the new law to appoint OIG attorneys as special assistants not only in criminal forfeiture proceedings, but in civil matters as well.

Anyone can report suspected TennCare fraud by calling 1-800-433-3982 toll-free from anywhere in Tennessee, or log on to www.tennessee.gov/tenncare and follow the prompts that read “Report Fraud Now.”