Tennessee Code Title 71. Welfare § 71-5-2602

(a) Upon submitting a claim for, or upon receiving payment for, goods, services, items, facilities or accommodations under the TennCare program, a managed care organization, provider, vendor, subcontractor, or any other person or entity, shall maintain adequate records for a minimum of five (5) years after the date on which payment was received, if payment was received, or for five (5) years after the date on which the claim was submitted, if payment was not received. The bureau of TennCare shall have the authority to make appropriate and reasonable exceptions to the requirements of this subsection (a) upon a showing of good cause.

(b) Failure to maintain adequate records is defined as negligently failing to maintain such records as are necessary to disclose fully the nature of the goods, services, items, facilities, or accommodations for which a claim was submitted or payment was received by the managed care organization, provider, vendor, subcontractor, or any other person or entity receiving funds originating from the TennCare program. Records include records kept in any form or fashion, including, but not limited to, any and all medical records, documents, data, or items, electronic or nonelectronic, related to the provision of and billing for services and goods. Failure to maintain adequate records during an audit period is punishable by recovery of one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the amount payable to the person or entity, directly or indirectly, using TennCare funds for the TennCare-related services for which the person or entity has failed to maintain records. Failure to maintain adequate records during a subsequent audit period is punishable by recovery of three hundred percent (300%) of the amount payable to the person or entity, directly or indirectly, using TennCare funds for the TennCare-related services for which the person or entity has failed to maintain records. Any further offense within five (5) years of the second offense may result in a recommendation by the office of inspector general to the bureau of TennCare to restrict the person or entity from receiving future TennCare payments. These matters shall be referred to the attorney general and reporter for recovery of funds.