Audit 294509

FY End
2021-09-30
Total Expended
$5.50M
Findings
6
Programs
3
Organization: Hale County Hospital (AL)
Year: 2021 Accepted: 2024-03-11

Organization Exclusion Status:

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Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
375452 2021-004 Significant Deficiency - L
375453 2021-002 Material Weakness - A
375454 2021-003 Material Weakness - L
951894 2021-004 Significant Deficiency - L
951895 2021-002 Material Weakness - A
951896 2021-003 Material Weakness - L

Programs

ALN Program Spent Major Findings
93.498 Provider Relief Fund $5.45M Yes 3
93.461 Covid-19 Testing for the Uninsured $34,160 - 0
93.301 Small Rural Hospital Improvement Grant Program $10,200 - 0

Contacts

Name Title Type
MNBJAKF84KF1 Shay Cherry Auditee
3346243024 Chris Newman Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Title: 1.BASIS OF PRESENTATION Accounting Policies: For purposes of the Schedule, expenditures for federal awards programs are recognized on the accrual basis of accounting. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The Hospital did not elect to charge a de minimis rate of 10% for all federal awards. The accompanying schedule of expenditures of federal awards (the Schedule) includes the federal grant activity of The Hale County Hospital (the Hospital) and is presented on the accrual basis of accounting. The information in this schedule is presented in accordance with the requirements of Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. Because the Schedule presents only a selected portion of the operations of the Authority, it is not intended to, and does not, present the financial position, changes in net assets or cash flows of the Hospital or the Hale County Health Care Authority. The Schedule does not include the federal grant activity of Hale County Emergency Medical Services. The amounts presented on the Schedule for the Federal assistance listing number 93.498, COVID-19 Provider Relief Fund (PRF) program, are based on the Period 1 PRF report submission to the PRF reporting portal. Amounts included in the Period 1 submission represent amounts received between April 10, 2020 and June 30, 2020.
Title: 2.SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Accounting Policies: For purposes of the Schedule, expenditures for federal awards programs are recognized on the accrual basis of accounting. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The Hospital did not elect to charge a de minimis rate of 10% for all federal awards. For purposes of the Schedule, expenditures for federal awards programs are recognized on the accrual basis of accounting. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement.
Title: 3.INDIRECT COST RATE Accounting Policies: For purposes of the Schedule, expenditures for federal awards programs are recognized on the accrual basis of accounting. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in the Uniform Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: The Hospital did not elect to charge a de minimis rate of 10% for all federal awards. The Hospital did not elect to charge a de minimis rate of 10% for all federal awards.

Finding Details

Criteria: Section 200.507 of the Uniform Guidance states that the single audit shall be completed, and required reporting submitted within the earlier of 30 calendar days after receipt of the auditor’s report, or nine months after the end of the fiscal year. Condition: The Hospital did not complete and submit its audit report prior to the required deadline. Cause and Effect: Due to a delay in the compiling of records related to the audit and lack of internal controls, the Hospital was not in compliance with the reporting requirement. Questioned Costs: None. Repeat Finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that the Hospital complete its audits and submit the required reports by the deadline. View of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and is in the process of implementing the recommendations.
Criteria: The Hospital should have a review process in place that includes documentation of review in accordance with 45 CFR 75.342. Condition: The Hospital could not produce evidence of approval of payroll expenditures related to reimbursement under the Provider Relief Fund. Total personnel expenses reported in the Period 1 filing were $828,794. Cause: Payroll expenses selected for testing did not have evidence that the expenditure had been approved. Effect: Payroll expenses tested did not have a documented approval. Questioned Costs: None. Repeat Finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: Policies and procedures should require the documentation of approval of expenses prior to payment. View of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and is in the process of implementing the recommendations.
Criteria: The Authority should have appropriate internal controls in place to ensure that the reporting requirements are met, and that amounts utilized in the reports are reported accurately and in accordance with 45 CFR 75.342. Condition: The Period 1 Provider Relief Fund (PRF) report submitted during the year ended September 30, 2021, was tested. Certain expenses identified by management for reimbursement were for ineligible expenses, including 12 expenses totaling $10,700 incurred prior to COVID and 26 duplicate expenses totaling $17,084. However, the Hospital had sufficient other eligible COVID related expenses to substitute for the ineligible expenses. As a result, the Hospital incorrectly reported a portion of eligible expenses in the wrong quarter and the wrong expense classification on the Period 1 PRF report. Cause: Certain expenses reported were not reported in the proper quarterly period and the type of expense was misclassified. Effect: Errors were made in the reporting of quarterly COVID expenses on the Period 1 PRF. However, there was no impact to total funding received or retained by the Hospital due to the error. The total amount of COVID expenses reported for the Period 1 PRF was accurate, and the amount reported per the schedule of expenditures of federal awards was also accurate. Questioned Costs: None. Repeat Finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: Policies and procedures over federal grant reporting should be modified to ensure amounts are reported accurately. View of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and is in the process of implementing the recommendations.
Criteria: Section 200.507 of the Uniform Guidance states that the single audit shall be completed, and required reporting submitted within the earlier of 30 calendar days after receipt of the auditor’s report, or nine months after the end of the fiscal year. Condition: The Hospital did not complete and submit its audit report prior to the required deadline. Cause and Effect: Due to a delay in the compiling of records related to the audit and lack of internal controls, the Hospital was not in compliance with the reporting requirement. Questioned Costs: None. Repeat Finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend that the Hospital complete its audits and submit the required reports by the deadline. View of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and is in the process of implementing the recommendations.
Criteria: The Hospital should have a review process in place that includes documentation of review in accordance with 45 CFR 75.342. Condition: The Hospital could not produce evidence of approval of payroll expenditures related to reimbursement under the Provider Relief Fund. Total personnel expenses reported in the Period 1 filing were $828,794. Cause: Payroll expenses selected for testing did not have evidence that the expenditure had been approved. Effect: Payroll expenses tested did not have a documented approval. Questioned Costs: None. Repeat Finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: Policies and procedures should require the documentation of approval of expenses prior to payment. View of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and is in the process of implementing the recommendations.
Criteria: The Authority should have appropriate internal controls in place to ensure that the reporting requirements are met, and that amounts utilized in the reports are reported accurately and in accordance with 45 CFR 75.342. Condition: The Period 1 Provider Relief Fund (PRF) report submitted during the year ended September 30, 2021, was tested. Certain expenses identified by management for reimbursement were for ineligible expenses, including 12 expenses totaling $10,700 incurred prior to COVID and 26 duplicate expenses totaling $17,084. However, the Hospital had sufficient other eligible COVID related expenses to substitute for the ineligible expenses. As a result, the Hospital incorrectly reported a portion of eligible expenses in the wrong quarter and the wrong expense classification on the Period 1 PRF report. Cause: Certain expenses reported were not reported in the proper quarterly period and the type of expense was misclassified. Effect: Errors were made in the reporting of quarterly COVID expenses on the Period 1 PRF. However, there was no impact to total funding received or retained by the Hospital due to the error. The total amount of COVID expenses reported for the Period 1 PRF was accurate, and the amount reported per the schedule of expenditures of federal awards was also accurate. Questioned Costs: None. Repeat Finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: Policies and procedures over federal grant reporting should be modified to ensure amounts are reported accurately. View of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and is in the process of implementing the recommendations.