McMinn County deputies make TennCare fraud arrest

ATHENS, Tenn. (WDEF) – A man on the run from authorities for TennCare Fraud for ten months gets arrested in McMinn County.

22-year-old Tyler C. Knox of Sweetwater was charged last September with four counts of doctor shopping for the painkiller Hydrocodone in McMinn County.

Authorities say Knox used the Tennessee state healthcare insurance benefits as payment for the drugs.

That just become a Class D felony July 1, 2016.

That means it is now punishable by up to four years in prison.

You can report suspected fraud by calling 1-800-433-3982 toll-free from anywhere in Tennessee, or follow prompts that read “Report TennCare Fraud.”

District Attorney General Stephen Crump is prosecuting.

The Office of Inspector General began full operation in February 2005 and has investigated cases leading to more than $3 million being repaid to the state health insurance program, with a total estimated cost avoidance of more than $163.6 million according to latest figures.

To date, 2,681 people have been charged with this type of fraud.

“Crossing into another county to try to get prescription drugs does not prevent a person from being arrested for trying to stock up on prescriptions for painkillers,” Inspector General Manny Tyndall said. “We will continue to go after these individuals every time they try to commit fraud against TennCare which is vitally important to many Tennesseans.”