Fraud by program in Tennessee
| Program | Announcements | More |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare | 11 | Tennessee Medicare cases |
| PPP/EIDL | 8 | Tennessee PPP/EIDL cases |
| Medicaid | 6 | All Medicaid cases |
| VA benefits | 4 | All VA benefits cases |
| Other federal program | 3 | |
| Unemployment | 2 | All Unemployment cases |
Where to report fraud in Tennessee
| Type of fraud | Report to |
|---|---|
| Medicaid provider fraud | Medicaid Fraud Control Division · Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) · 1-800-433-5454 |
| SNAP, child care assistance, cash assistance | Tennessee Department of Human Services – Do You Suspect Fraud? (TDHS Office of Inspector General, 1-800-241-2629) |
| Unemployment benefits | Department of Labor OIG hotline |
| Medicare and other HHS programs | HHS-OIG · 1-800-HHS-TIPS |
| Any WHIP-covered federal program, if you want a reward | America.gov/fraud (how to submit) |
Whistleblower rewards in Tennessee
| Program | What it pays | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Medicaid False Claims Act Covers Medicaid / health care only | 15–25% if the state proceeds; 25–30% if it does not | Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 71-5-181 to 71-5-185 (relator share at § 71-5-183(d)) |
| TennCare fraud reward program (OIG "Cash for Tips") | Tennessee Dept. of Finance & Administration Office of Inspector General pays fixed cash rewards for tips phoned in to the TennCare Fraud Hotline (1-800-433-3982) that lead to a TennCare fraud conviction: $250 (Class B felony, restitution >= $5,000), $200 (Class C), $150 (Class D), $100 (Class E, restitution >= $1,000), $50 (arrest + Class E conviction or diversion). Claim within 60 days of the conviction being posted on the OIG website; paid only if no other law provides a reward; government employees and participants excluded. | Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0620-4-1 (authority T.C.A. §§ 71-5-2504, 71-5-2512) |
| Federal WHIP | $10,000–$30,000 per tip that leads to criminal charges | DOJ terms |
| Federal False Claims Act | 15–25% of the recovery if the government intervenes; 25–30% if not | 31 U.S.C. § 3730(d) |
Tennessee has two acts. Listed above is the Medicaid False Claims Act (HHS-OIG approved, letter of 12/28/2016). It also has a general Tennessee False Claims Act, Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 4-18-101 to -108, which covers state and local-government funds (claims under taxes administered by the Dept. of Revenue are excluded). Its relator share is unusually high: 25–33% if the state or political subdivision proceeds, and 35–50% if it does not (§ 4-18-104(g)); the AG's office or local prosecutor also takes a fixed 33%. Statute text came from FindLaw and Justia copies, because Tennessee's official code is only hosted on LexisNexis. Recipient (TennCare enrollee) fraud goes to the F&A Office of Inspector General, 1-800-433-3982. The reward-rule PDF is the November 2006 revised version and the cash amounts may be outdated.
Estimate federal awards for your case with the calculator, or compare programs in WHIP vs the False Claims Act.
Latest announcements
Source: U.S. Department of Justice press releases, classified by WHIP Reward. Each row is one press release; the same case can appear at several stages, so amounts should not be added. Charged cases are allegations. Search all 28 in the database.
Frequently asked questions
How do I report Medicaid fraud in Tennessee?
Report provider fraud to the Medicaid Fraud Control Division (Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI)), or to the HHS Office of Inspector General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS. To be eligible for a federal WHIP award, also submit the tip in writing at America.gov/fraud.
Does Tennessee pay whistleblowers?
Yes. Under the Tennessee Medicaid False Claims Act (Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 71-5-181 to 71-5-185 (relator share at § 71-5-183(d))), a whistleblower who files a case receives 15–25% if the state proceeds; 25–30% if it does not. Tennessee also has: TennCare fraud reward program (OIG "Cash for Tips") (Tennessee Dept. of Finance & Administration Office of Inspector General pays fixed cash rewards for tips phoned in to the TennCare Fraud Hotline (1-800-433-3982) that lead to a TennCare fraud conviction: $250 (Class B felony, restitution >= $5,000), $200 (Class C), $150 (Class D), $100 (Class E, restitution >= $1,000), $50 (arrest + Class E conviction or diversion). Claim within 60 days of the conviction being posted on the OIG website; paid only if no other law provides a reward; government employees and participants excluded.). Federal programs (WHIP and the federal False Claims Act) apply as well.
How many fraud cases has the DOJ announced in Tennessee?
28 announcements since January 20, 2025 in our database, counting each press release separately (a case can appear at charge, plea and sentencing). 14 of them announced a sentence.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Justice: Whistleblower Rewards Program
- oig.hhs.gov/fraud/state-false-claims-act-reviews
- oig.hhs.gov/documents/false-claims-act/270/Tennessee.pdf
- oig.hhs.gov/fraud/medicaid-fraud-control-units-mfcu/files/contact-directors.pdf
- tn.gov/tbi/crime-issues/crime-issues/medicaid-fraud.html
- codes.findlaw.com/tn/title-71-welfare/tn-code-sect-71-5-183
- law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/title-4/chapter-18/section-4-18-104
- codes.findlaw.com/tn/title-4-state-government/tn-code-sect-4-18-103
- tn.gov/content/dam/tn/finance/documents/oig/oig_documents/Incentive%20Program%20for%20the%20Office%20of%20Inspector%20General.pdf
- tn.gov/humanservices/need-help-/tdhs-fraud.html
- fna.usda.gov/report-fraud/tennessee
- U.S. Department of Justice press releases (justice.gov/news)