A woman from Jefferson County, Tennessee, has been convicted on charges of TennCare fraud and theft of services. Ashley Barnhart Martin, known also as Ashley Barnhart, a 39-year-old resident of Dandridge, admitted to withholding information about her marital status which, had it been disclosed, would have made her ineligible for TennCare benefits based on her and her spouse's combined household income, according to the Tennessee Department of Finance & Administration.
On April 17, 2025, Barnhart Martin pleaded guilty in a case scrutinized by the OIG, revealing that she had failed to report her change in marital status, a critical factor in determining TennCare eligibility. The result of her plea was a sentence to six years of supervised probation and restitution. The court additionally ordered her to pay out $21,237.75, a sum that, if paid in full, would modify her probation to unsupervised, as reported by the Tennessee Department of Finance & Administration.
Chad D. Holman, the Inspector General, commented on the case's resolution, saying, "The result of this investigation is a prime example of how important it is for recipients to continually provide accurate information regarding any changes to their status," the Tennessee Department of Finance & Administration noted. He underscored the importance of transparency for beneficiaries of the state-run healthcare program. The prosecution was led by District Attorney General Jimmy Dunn and Assistant District Attorney General Amy C. Atnip. Those who wish to report suspected fraud can do so by calling 1-800-433-3982, or they can visit the OIG's website to submit a tip online.
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