Clinton man charged with TennCare fraud in Knox County

An Anderson County man has been charged in Knox County with TennCare fraud for using his son’s TennCare healthcare insurance benefits, authorities said.

Anthony Eugene Morgan, alias Anthony Eugene Morgan Sr., 44, of Clinton, was arrested Wednesday, the Tennessee Office of Inspector General said in a press release. It’s Morgan’s second arrest for TennCare fraud.

The press release said a Knox County Grand Jury charged Morgan with four counts of identity theft and 27 counts of TennCare fraud. The charges allege Morgan received TennCare benefits between April and June of 2011 by identifying himself as his son.

Morgan was first arrested on a warrant on April 10, 2011, when he was charged with attempting to use his son’s TennCare benefits to obtain the painkiller Percocet for himself.

“Tennesseans will no longer tolerate prescription abuse, and we intend to stop this crime in the TennCare program,” Inspector General Deborah Y. Faulkner said in the press release. “Providers, pharmacies, and police are more acutely aware of the extremes some people will go to in order to get prescription drugs, especially painkillers.”

Identity theft is a Class D felony that carries a maximum of four years in prison per charge. Illegally obtaining TennCare medical benefits is a Class E felony that carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison per charge.

District Attorney Randall Nichols will prosecute, the press release said.

The OIG, which is separate from TennCare, began full operations in February 2005 and has investigated cases leading to more than $3.5 million paid in restitution and recoupment to TennCare, according to latest figures. So far, more than 1,700 people have been charged with TennCare fraud, the press release said.

It said Tennessee residents can get cash rewards for TennCare fraud tips that lead to convictions. Anyone can report suspected TennCare fraud by calling (800) 433-3982 toll-free from anywhere in Tennessee or loggin on to www.tn.gov/tnoig and following the prompts that read “Report TennCare Fraud.”