MAURY COUNTY MAN ARRESTED FOR TENNCARE PRESCRIPTION FRAUD

NASHVILLE – A Maury County man has been charged with TennCare fraud for allegedly attempting to use TennCare benefits to pay for a forged prescription.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) today announced the arrest of 28-year-old Daniel Deane of Columbia, Tennessee. Special Agents with the Office of Inspector General served him with arrest warrants charging that on July 10 he presented a forged prescription for Lortab, an addictive painkiller, at a pharmacy in Columbia and attempted to use his TennCare benefits to pay for the fraudulent prescription. Deane was arrested on one count each of attempted TennCare fraud, forgery, and attempting to obtain a controlled substance by fraud.

“The unauthorized use and abuse of prescription drugs is a serious public health problem in the State of Tennessee,” Inspector General Deborah Faulkner said. “We’re committed to ensuring that TennCare benefits are used to improve the public health, not jeopardize it.”

TennCare fraud and forgery are Class E felonies, that carry a sentence of up to two years in prison, obtaining controlled substances by fraud is a Class D felony that carries a sentence of up to four years in prison. Deane’s bond was set at $10,000 on each charge. District Attorney General T. Michel Bottoms is prosecuting.

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.”