Monroe County Resident Convicted of TennCare Fraud

NASHVILLE, TN - The Office of Inspector General (OIG) today announced the conviction of Bridgett Garrett, 34, of Vonore, Tennessee, on one count of TennCare Fraud and one count of Theft of Services.

Garrett was convicted of failing to report to TennCare that she no longer had custody of her child. Had she properly disclosed this information, she would not have been eligible to receive TennCare benefits.

Garrett was sentenced to:

• Three years of Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) supervised probation for TennCare Fraud.
• Four years of TDOC supervised probation for Theft of Services.
• Restitution totaling $13,824.73.

The case was prosecuted by Monroe County District Attorney General Stephen Hatchett with assistance from Assistant District Attorney Kelly A. Shelton.

"Our responsibility is to ensure TennCare resources are protected and available to those who legitimately qualify for assistance," said Inspector General Chad D. Holman. "Cases like this reinforce the importance of holding individuals accountable when they attempt to take advantage of the program. We will continue to aggressively investigate fraud, protect taxpayer dollars, and safeguard the integrity of TennCare."

REPORT TENNCARE FRAUD

Through the OIG Cash for Tips Program established by the Tennessee Legislature, Tennesseans may qualify for cash rewards for TennCare fraud tips that lead to convictions. To report suspected TennCare fraud, call 1-800-433-3982, or visit www.tn.gov/oig and follow the prompts to "Report TennCare fraud."

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