COFFEE COUNTY WOMAN ARRESTED FOR TENNCARE FRAUD

GRANDPARENTS WERE ALSO ARRESTED IN DRUG FRAUD SWEEP THIS WEEK

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The granddaughter of a Coffee County couple - arrested this week for TennCare fraud – now faces similar charges. The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) today announced the arrest, the fourth this week in Coffee County for TennCare fraud.

Holly Baker, 24, of Tullahoma is accused of obtaining a prescription for a painkiller, paid for by TennCare and giving the pills to her grandfather to sell. On Wednesday, her grandfather Huey Baker, 72, and Mary Baker, 61, both also of Tullahoma were arrested in connection with the case. They are charged with either obtaining or aiding and abetting another person in fraudulently obtaining TennCare medical assistance benefits to which they were not entitled.

According to OIG Special Agents, an undercover informant working for the Tullahoma Police Department last month purchased 62 hydrocodone pills from the Huey Baker at his business, Huey’s Thrift Store, in Tullahoma. Agents say the pills were from a prescription obtained by granddaughter Holly Baker and paid for by TennCare. The elder Baker admitted to investigators that his granddaughter gave him some of her TennCare prescription pills to sell.

“The Office of Inspector General is aggressively pursuing TennCare fraud in Coffee County and all county law enforcement officials as well as those in Manchester and Tullahoma stand with them in their efforts to arrest prosecute people who are stealing money from the taxpayers and medicines from the truly sick,” Coffee County District Attorney Mickey Layne said. “We have an excellent relationship with Inspector General Faulkner and her office and our anti-TennCare fraud efforts are continuing in Coffee County."

The TennCare charge against Ms. Baker is a Class E felony, punishable by up to two years in prison. Holly Baker’s bond was set at $50,000.

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.”