Ophelia Ford Faces TennCare Investigation

Now, state Sen. Ophelia Ford finds herself at the center of another controversy.

NewsChannel 5 has confirmed that the Memphis Democrat is the subject of an investigation that, depending upon what agents find, could lead to criminal charges.

It's a NewsChannel 5 Investigates exclusive, uncovered by our chief investigative reporter Phil Williams.

Sources tell Phil that the investigation centers on possible TennCare fraud and is being conducted by TennCare's inspector general.

But this investigation focuses on how she came to be enrolled in the state's TennCare health insurance program prior to her election to the Senate in 2005.

Sources say Ford -- who is a licensed insurance agent -- was enrolled in TennCare for what may have been a 10-year-period.

* Did she have access to health insurance -- either through the Ford family's funeral home or through her insurance business?

Her brother Joe Ford confirmed that TennCare's inspector general did subpoena payroll records from the funeral home -- which he says does offer health insurance to its employees.

Asked whether the senator might have committed TennCare fraud, he said he had no way of knowing.

* May 14: She went on a tirade aimed at Children's Services officials appearing before a Senate committee.

* May 15: Ford was taken to a Nashville hospital after apparently falling off a bar stool at a downtown hotel.

* June 24: She was taken to a Memphis hospital, after telling 9-1-1 that she hadn't eaten in a week

The Ford Family dynasty has almost fallen apart.

Picture William Jefferson, Democrat. Louisiana, multiplied by about 20. Thats what the Ford political machine is/was.

But the constant pressure on the family and the organization - having so many being investigated, indicted, in litigation and incarcerated has taken it’s toll.

I believe that had Harold Ford, Jr. been elected U.S. Senator, he could have used the power and influence of his office to get some of these problems resolved.

However, they are now like a Mafia family with the smart leaders taken out, and the dumb ones not being intelligent enough to run the family.

It may all just be coming to an end...

A member of my family was on Tenncare but he had to pay for it based on his income. He could not get insurance otherwise. If this witch was getting it outside of this situation she should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law!

I'm on the mess myself plus Medicare retired on disability. I'm not sure how long ago she may have been on it. Twelve years ago even though Medicaid {What Tennscare replaced} was intended mainly for workers who had become disabled plus dependents or as survivor benefits for a deceased worker. I couldn't get on it even though I had no income. I got on it because I'm uninsurable.

Twelve years ago all that was needed was a statement by an insurance company stating you were uninsurable and you then qualified for Tennscare. After the reforms that came when Bredesen took over I'm not sure what it takes now. For Medicare patients though Tennscare I don't believe pays for much of anything. For a number of years if you were disabled and on Tennscare and Medicare it was very hard to even get a primary care physician. The doctors were paid far less than what Tennscare or Medicare only patients paid them. Medicare only meant the doctor could bill the patient or their private insurer as well. Patients on Tennscare and Medicare meant they had to take the Medicare payment as payment in full.

My wife has been on it from day one and it's been a nightmare from day one till Taxquist was out of office. Medicaid was far more accountable and was made to fail by some who later obtained lucrative positions in the Tenn Care system private sector. We both went nearly a year without a doctor. For me that's OK as long as I have the meds. For my wife that's another matter though.

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