NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is looking into whether lawmakers improperly intervened with a state board to help three nurse practitioners whose licenses were suspended.

The case grew out of a TBI investigation of fatal overdoses among patients of the now defunct Appalachian Medical Center.

Republican Rep. Tony Shipley has told the Kingsport Times-News that he used his legislative position to force the Tennessee Board of Nursing to reconsider the suspensions.

Rep. Dale Ford told The Associated Press today that he proposed a bill to create an oversight committee for the board but withdrew it after the board agreed to re-evaluate the suspension of one of the nurses.

Ford said his wife was a clinic patient and his sister worked there. He said he's done nothing wrong.