A Memphis woman is currently facing legal scrutiny over accusations of defrauding TennCare, as outlined in an indictment by a Shelby County Grand Jury. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) announced the arrest of Varoneca Parker, who is charged with reportedly submitting falsified timesheets for compensation for services she did not perform. According to a report from Action News 5, the TBI received initial tips from a TennCare Managed Care Organization in January 2024 indicating possible fraudulent activity.
Parker, listed with a date of birth as September 26, 1988, was arrested last Monday and is held on a bond set at $20,000; as WREG reports, the exact amount of money she allegedly received from the fraudulent billing has not been disclosed by the TBI investigations reveals that the questionable billings trace back to July 2023.
Additionally, the TBI has emphasized the point that these charges should not be seen as a verdict — "The charges and allegations referenced in this release are merely accusations of criminal conduct and not evidence," and Parker is deemed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The investigative work by the TBI's Medicaid Fraud Control Division, which received significant funding from both federal and state sources, totaling over $14 million for the Fiscal Year 2024-2025, as reported by Action News 5.
This development comes alongside a separate TBI announcement concerning a Memphis doctor's indictment on charges of TennCare fraud and theft of property, as shared via a social media post from the bureau; the details of the doctor's case remain confidential, but it reflects the increasing attention law enforcement is giving to the healthcare sector in light of fraud allegations. Both the Parker case and the case involving the unnamed Memphis doctor are part of a broader issue related to the protection of public funds and the integrity of healthcare administration.
A Memphis doctor faces charges of TennCare fraud and theft of property following an investigation by special agents with the Medicaid Fraud Control Division of the @TBInvestigation.https://t.co/f2R0lAlvB3
— Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (@TBInvestigation) March 19, 2025
