The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says a caregiver is now under arrest after special agents with its Medicaid Fraud Control Division launched an investigation into alleged abuse of a vulnerable adult in that caregiver’s care. For now, the agency is keeping key details close to the vest and has not said where the arrest happened or identified the person taken into custody.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said special agents assigned to the Medicaid Fraud Control Division conducted the probe that led to the arrest. The brief update did not include booking information, charging documents, or any identifying information about the alleged victim.
Medicaid Fraud Control Division Leads Investigation
The Medicaid Fraud Control Division investigates TennCare provider fraud and handles allegations of patient abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation, according to the TBI. The unit often opens cases after referrals from Adult Protective Services or TennCare’s Office of Program Integrity and typically works with local district attorneys on state charges.
Other Recent MFCD Cases in Tennessee
Agents with the MFCD have pursued several similar investigations across the state in recent months, resulting in arrests and indictments in different counties, as reflected in recent TBI news releases. Local outlets have also chronicled cases tied to TennCare billing and caregiver misconduct, including reporting from WBBJ.
Legal Penalties Under State Law
Under Tennessee law, "abuse of a vulnerable adult" is a criminal offense classified as a Class D felony, and aggravated abuse carries higher felony classes, according to Tennessee code §39‑15‑510. Prosecutors decide whether to file state charges after investigators present their findings to a district attorney’s office.
How to Report Suspected Abuse
If you suspect abuse or exploitation of an adult in Tennessee, you can contact Adult Protective Services at 1‑888‑277‑8366 or file a secure report online at reportadultabuse.dhs.tn.gov, per the Tennessee Department of Human Services. You can also contact the TBI’s Medicaid Fraud Control Division tip line at 1‑800‑433‑5454, a hotline listed on the division’s page.
This is a developing story, and this article will be updated when the TBI, local prosecutors, or court records provide more information about charges, court dates, or the identity of the person arrested. For now, the agency’s Facebook post remains the primary public notice about the case.
