Welcome to our new web site!

To give our readers a chance to experience all that our new website has to offer, we have made all content freely avaiable, through October 1, 2018.

During this time, print and digital subscribers will not need to log in to view our stories or e-editions.

Carroll County Woman Charged with TennCare Fraud

Posted

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A Carroll County woman is charged with doctor shopping for prescription drugs, using TennCare as payment for the pills.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) announces the arrest of Crystal Vansteenburgh, 28, of Huntingdon.

Vansteenburgh is charged with visiting multiple healthcare providers in a short time period in order to obtain prescriptions for the painkiller Hydrocodone, using TennCare to pay for the clinical visits, prescriptions or both. Authorities say Vansteenburgh was treated on 13 separate dates by eight different providers, and seeking prescriptions for controlled substances on each visit. She is charged with two counts of TennCare fraud by doctor shopping.

“Illegally obtaining prescriptions is a crime we won’t tolerate in Tennessee,” Inspector General Kim Harmon said.  “Fortunately, Tennessee laws deter TennCare benefits from being used to fund the opioid epidemic.”

District Attorney General Matt Stowe is prosecuting. TennCare fraud is now a Class D felony punishable by up to four years in prison.

The OIG, which is separate from TennCare, began full operation in February 2005 and has investigated cases leading to more than $3 million being repaid to TennCare, with a total estimated cost avoidance of more than $163.6 million for TennCare, according to latest figures. To date, 3,037 people have been charged with TennCare fraud.

Through the OIG Cash for Tips Program established by the Legislature, Tennesseans can get cash rewards for TennCare fraud tips that lead to convictions.  Anyone can report suspected TennCare fraud by calling 1-800-433-3982, toll-free, from anywhere in Tennessee; or log on to www.tn.gov/tnoig/ and follow the prompts that read “Report TennCare Fraud.”