A husband and wife in Chattanooga have been charged with TennCare fraud, officials said.
Danny Lewis, 40, and Mary Jo Lewis, 41, were arrested Tuesday and each charged with one count of TennCare fraud, according to the state Office of Inspector General. Mrs. Lewis also is known as Mary Jo Hale, Mary Jo Lyda or Mary Jo Peterson, officials say.
The two are accused of presenting forged prescriptions for the painkiller hydrocodone, along with anti-anxiety medication Xanax and hypertension medication atenolol, the OIG says.
The drugs were written for another person who has TennCare benefits, the office says.
The TennCare fraud charge could result in a two-year sentence against each if they are convicted, the OIG says.
“We hope everyone is getting the message that we are serious about pursuing TennCare fraud, especially when members of a family are conspiring to get prescription drugs illegally,” Inspector General Deborah Faulkner said in a statement.
The OIG, which is separate from TennCare, has investigated cases leading to more than $2.5 million in restitution and recoupment to TennCare, the statement says.
Since the OIG began operations in 2005, more than 1,100 people have been charged with TennCare fraud, according to the statement.
As someone who works in the TennCare Dept, there is much more fraud than this going on! I am outraged that fraud and abuse happens everyday. Anyone who thinks ObamaCare will save us, look to our own community. There are illegals that can use tenncare benefits for pregnancy and or an "Emergency" ie: gun shot wounds! These claims are in the 10s and 100s of thousands of dollars! As for the "drug seekers" they are eating up our tax dollars just like the so many pills they gobble up every day! There is a boundless demand for entitlement in this Country and in our on community. Give a man a fish and he eats for a day....teach a man to fish......
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