Audit 342669

FY End
2024-06-30
Total Expended
$13.89M
Findings
8
Programs
39
Organization: Burke County (NC)
Year: 2024 Accepted: 2025-02-17

Organization Exclusion Status:

Checking exclusion status...

Findings

ID Ref Severity Repeat Requirement
523394 2024-001 Significant Deficiency - E
523395 2024-002 Significant Deficiency - E
523396 2024-003 Significant Deficiency - E
523397 2024-004 Significant Deficiency - E
1099836 2024-001 Significant Deficiency - E
1099837 2024-002 Significant Deficiency - E
1099838 2024-003 Significant Deficiency - E
1099839 2024-004 Significant Deficiency - E

Programs

ALN Program Spent Major Findings
93.778 Medical Assistance Program $3.63M Yes 4
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $2.97M Yes 0
93.659 Adoption Assistance $1.39M Yes 0
10.561 State Administrative Matching Grants for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program $1.14M Yes 0
93.667 Social Services Block Grant $525,786 - 0
93.563 Child Support Services $520,656 Yes 0
10.557 Wic Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children $518,579 - 0
93.658 Foster Care Title IV-E $513,941 Yes 0
93.767 Children's Health Insurance Program $265,293 - 0
93.323 Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases (elc) $236,973 - 0
93.268 Immunization Cooperative Agreements $203,866 - 0
93.045 Special Programs for the Aging, Title Iii, Part C, Nutrition Services $175,659 - 0
16.838 Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Other Substances Use Program $164,999 - 0
93.596 Child Care Mandatory and Matching Funds of the Child Care and Development Fund $151,832 - 0
93.568 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance $126,256 - 0
93.217 Family Planning Services $65,284 - 0
10.666 Schools and Roads - Grants to Counties $61,602 - 0
97.042 Emergency Management Performance Grants $54,073 - 0
93.674 John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood $46,841 - 0
93.044 Special Programs for the Aging, Title Iii, Part B, Grants for Supportive Services and Senior Centers $46,313 - 0
93.556 Marylee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program $42,448 - 0
93.991 Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant $40,347 - 0
97.067 Homeland Security Grant Program $37,880 - 0
93.069 Public Health Emergency Preparedness $35,364 - 0
93.994 Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant to the States $34,251 - 0
16.585 Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program $19,986 - 0
93.053 Nutrition Services Incentive Program $15,716 - 0
93.324 State Health Insurance Assistance Program $13,578 - 0
93.558 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families $12,594 - 0
16.738 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program $10,668 - 0
93.071 Medicare Enrollment Assistance Program $5,223 - 0
93.048 Special Programs for the Aging, Title Iv, and Title Ii, Discretionary Projects $2,800 - 0
97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) $1,660 - 0
21.016 Equitable Sharing $1,054 - 0
93.917 Hiv Care Formula Grants $214 - 0
93.566 Refugee and Entrant Assistance State/replacement Designee Administered Programs $186 - 0
93.977 Sexually Transmitted Diseases (std) Prevention and Control Grants $100 - 0
93.116 Project Grants and Cooperative Agreements for Tuberculosis Control Programs $50 - 0
93.645 Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services Program $-20,567 - 0

Contacts

Name Title Type
KVJHUFURQDM5 Margaret Pierce Auditee
8287649050 Alan Thompson Auditor
No contacts on file

Notes to SEFA

Accounting Policies: Expenditures reported in the SEFSA are reported on the modified accrual basis of accounting. Such expenditures are recognized following the cost principles contained in Uniform Guidance, wherein certain types of expenditures are not allowable or are limited as to reimbursement. De Minimis Rate Used: N Rate Explanation: N/A

Finding Details

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Passed through the NC Department of Health and Human Services Program Name: Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid; Title XIX) AL #: 93.778 Finding: 2024-001 Inaccurate Information Entry SIGNIFICANT DEFICENCY ELIGIBILITY Criteria: Section I. Summary of Auditors' Results (continued) Section II. Financial Statement Findings Type of auditors' report issued on compliance for major State programs: In accordance with 42 CFR 435, documentation must be obtained as needed to determine if a recipient meets specific standards, and documentation must be maintained to support eligibility determinations. In accordance with 2 CFR 200, management should have an adequate system of internal controls procedures in place to ensure an applicant is properly determined or redetermined for benefits. Section III. Federal Award Findings and Questioned Costs 130Burke County, North Carolina Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs For the Year Ended June 30, 2024 Condition: Questioned Costs: Context: Effect: Cause: Recommendation: Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Passed through the NC Department of Health and Human Services Program Name: Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid; Title XIX) AL #: 93.778 Finding: 2024-002 Inaccurate Resource Entry SIGNIFICANT DEFICENCY ELIGIBILITY Criteria: There was 1 error discovered during our procedures where income or household size was incorrectly calculated or inaccurate information was entered into the case file. There was no known affect to eligibility and there were no known questioned costs. We examined 60 cases from of a total of 1,076,004 Medicaid claims from the Medicaid beneficiary report provided by NC Department of Health and Human Services to re-determine eligibility. These findings are being reported with the financial statement audit as it relates to Medicaid administrative cost compliance audit. For those certifications/re-certifications there was a chance that information was not properly documented and reconciled to NC FAST and a participant could have been approved for benefits for which they were not eligible. Ineffective record keeping and ineffective case review process, incomplete documentation, and incorrect application of rules for purposes of determining eligibility. Files should be reviewed internally to ensure proper documentation is in place for eligibility. Workers should be retrained on what files should contain and the importance of complete and accurate record keeping. We recommend that all files include online verifications, documented resources of income and those amounts agree to information in NC FAST. The results found or documentation made in case notes should clearly indicate what actions were performed and the results of those actions. The County agrees with the finding. See Corrective Action Plan in the following section. In accordance with Medicaid Manual MA-2230, Medicaid for Aged, Blind and Disabled case records should contain documentation that verifications were done in preparation of the application and these items will agree to reports in the NC FAST system. In this process, the countable resources should be calculated correctly and agree back to the amounts in the NC FAST system. Any items discovered in the verification process should be considered countable or noncountable resources and explained within the documentation. Section III. Federal Award Findings and Questioned Costs (continued) 131
Burke County, North Carolina Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs For the Year Ended June 30, 2024 Condition: Questioned Costs: Context: Effect: Cause: Recommendation: Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Passed through the NC Department of Health and Human Services Program Name: Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid; Title XIX) AL #: 93.778 Finding: 2024-002 Inaccurate Resource Entry SIGNIFICANT DEFICENCY ELIGIBILITY Criteria: There was 1 error discovered during our procedures where income or household size was incorrectly calculated or inaccurate information was entered into the case file. There was no known affect to eligibility and there were no known questioned costs. We examined 60 cases from of a total of 1,076,004 Medicaid claims from the Medicaid beneficiary report provided by NC Department of Health and Human Services to re-determine eligibility. These findings are being reported with the financial statement audit as it relates to Medicaid administrative cost compliance audit. For those certifications/re-certifications there was a chance that information was not properly documented and reconciled to NC FAST and a participant could have been approved for benefits for which they were not eligible. Ineffective record keeping and ineffective case review process, incomplete documentation, and incorrect application of rules for purposes of determining eligibility. Files should be reviewed internally to ensure proper documentation is in place for eligibility. Workers should be retrained on what files should contain and the importance of complete and accurate record keeping. We recommend that all files include online verifications, documented resources of income and those amounts agree to information in NC FAST. The results found or documentation made in case notes should clearly indicate what actions were performed and the results of those actions. The County agrees with the finding. See Corrective Action Plan in the following section. In accordance with Medicaid Manual MA-2230, Medicaid for Aged, Blind and Disabled case records should contain documentation that verifications were done in preparation of the application and these items will agree to reports in the NC FAST system. In this process, the countable resources should be calculated correctly and agree back to the amounts in the NC FAST system. Any items discovered in the verification process should be considered countable or noncountable resources and explained within the documentation. Section III. Federal Award Findings and Questioned Costs (continued) 131Burke County, North Carolina Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs For the Year Ended June 30, 2024 Condition: Questioned Costs: Context: Effect: Cause: Recommendation: Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Passed through the NC Department of Health and Human Services Program Name: Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid; Title XIX) AL #: 93.778 Finding: 2024-003 Inadequate Request For Information SIGNIFICANT DEFICENCY ELIGIBILITY Criteria: Condition: The County agrees with the finding. See Corrective Action Plan in the following section. In accordance with 42 CFR 435, documentation must be obtained as needed to determine if a recipient meets specific standards, and documentation must be maintained to support eligibility determinations. Electronic matches are required at applications and redeterminations. There were 2 errors discovered during our procedures where required information needed for eligibility determinations were not requested or not requested timely at applications or redeterminations. Section III. Federal Award Findings and Questioned Costs (continued) There was no known affect to eligibility and there were no known questioned costs. We examined 60 cases from of a total of 1,076,004 Medicaid claims from the Medicaid beneficiary report provided by NC Department of Health and Human Services to re-determine eligibility. These findings are being reported with the financial statement audit as it relates to Medicaid administrative cost compliance audit. For those certifications/re-certifications there was a chance that information was not properly documented and reconciled to NC FAST and a participant could have been approved for benefits for which they were not eligible. Ineffective record keeping and ineffective case review process, incomplete documentation, and incorrect application of rules for purposes of determining eligibility. Case files should be reviewed internally to ensure correct calculations of resources are made, proper information is included in the case file, and necessary procedures are taken when determining eligibility. The results found or documentation made in case notes should clearly indicate what actions were performed and the results of those actions. There were 5 errors discovered during our procedures where resources were imcorrectly calculated or were not properly documented in the case file. 132
Burke County, North Carolina Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs For the Year Ended June 30, 2024 Condition: Questioned Costs: Context: Effect: Cause: Recommendation: Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Passed through the NC Department of Health and Human Services Program Name: Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid; Title XIX) AL #: 93.778 Finding: 2024-003 Inadequate Request For Information SIGNIFICANT DEFICENCY ELIGIBILITY Criteria: Condition: The County agrees with the finding. See Corrective Action Plan in the following section. In accordance with 42 CFR 435, documentation must be obtained as needed to determine if a recipient meets specific standards, and documentation must be maintained to support eligibility determinations. Electronic matches are required at applications and redeterminations. There were 2 errors discovered during our procedures where required information needed for eligibility determinations were not requested or not requested timely at applications or redeterminations. Section III. Federal Award Findings and Questioned Costs (continued) There was no known affect to eligibility and there were no known questioned costs. We examined 60 cases from of a total of 1,076,004 Medicaid claims from the Medicaid beneficiary report provided by NC Department of Health and Human Services to re-determine eligibility. These findings are being reported with the financial statement audit as it relates to Medicaid administrative cost compliance audit. For those certifications/re-certifications there was a chance that information was not properly documented and reconciled to NC FAST and a participant could have been approved for benefits for which they were not eligible. Ineffective record keeping and ineffective case review process, incomplete documentation, and incorrect application of rules for purposes of determining eligibility. Case files should be reviewed internally to ensure correct calculations of resources are made, proper information is included in the case file, and necessary procedures are taken when determining eligibility. The results found or documentation made in case notes should clearly indicate what actions were performed and the results of those actions. There were 5 errors discovered during our procedures where resources were imcorrectly calculated or were not properly documented in the case file. 132Burke County, North Carolina Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs For the Year Ended June 30, 2024 Questioned Costs: Context: Effect: Cause: Recommendation: Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: There was no known affect to eligibility and there were no known questioned costs. We examined 60 cases from of a total of 1,076,004 Medicaid claims from the Medicaid beneficiary report provided by NC Department of Health and Human Services to re-determine eligibility. These findings are being reported with the financial statement audit as it relates to Medicaid administrative cost compliance audit. For those certifications/re-certifications there was a chance that information was not properly documented and reconciled to NC FAST and applicants could have been approved for benefits for which they were not eligible. Ineffective record keeping and ineffective case review process, incomplete documentation, and incorrect application of rules for purposes of determining eligibility. Files should be reviewed internally to ensure all required verifications have been completed and information requested from the applicant/beneficiary or through various systems have been included and necessary procedures are taken when determining eligibility. The results found or documentation made in case notes should clearly indicate what actions were performed and the results of those actions. The County agrees with the finding. See Corrective Action Plan in the following section. Section III. Federal Award Findings and Questioned Costs (continued) 133
Burke County, North Carolina Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs For the Year Ended June 30, 2024 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Passed through the NC Department of Health and Human Services Program Name: Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) Cluster AL #: 10.551 and 10.561 Finding: 2024-004 Internal Controls Related to Food and Nutrition Services Eligibility SIGNIFICANT DEFICENCY ELIGIBILITY Criteria: Condition: Questioned Costs: Context: Effect: Section III. Federal Award Findings and Questioned Costs (continued) Per Section 200.303 of the Uniform Grant Guidance, a non-federal entity must establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. The State has provided policies and procedures to ensure that the County is meeting the federal guidance, relevant policies are: Food and Nutrition Services Policy 305 describes the verification sources and requirements and the FNS units primary responsibility for providing documentary evidence to support statements on applications and recertifications and procedures required if the statements by applicant/beneficiary are questionable. Food and Nutrition Services Policy 300 describes the sources of income countable and not countable to the household for determining financial eligibility. Food and Nutrition Services Policy 310 describes the procedures related to verifying changes in income (i.e. termination, end of contract, temporary, etc.). There were a total of 2 errors found in our testing, both instances where earned income was incorrectly caclculated and entered in NCFAST. Of these 2 errors, 1 of these could potentially be an eligibility error. Due to the nature of the populations provided from which the samples were chosen, we are unable to calculate questioned costs for the above mentioned potential eligibility issue. We examined 25 of 96,362 FNS cases from a report of all active FNS beneficiaries provided by the County's Department of Social Services. The finding is being reported with the financial statement audit as it relates to FNS administrative cost compliance audit. For those certifications/re-certifications there was a chance that information was not properly documented and reconciled to NC FAST and a participant could have been approved for benefits for which they were not eligible. 134
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Passed through the NC Department of Health and Human Services Program Name: Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid; Title XIX) AL #: 93.778 Finding: 2024-001 Inaccurate Information Entry SIGNIFICANT DEFICENCY ELIGIBILITY Criteria: Section I. Summary of Auditors' Results (continued) Section II. Financial Statement Findings Type of auditors' report issued on compliance for major State programs: In accordance with 42 CFR 435, documentation must be obtained as needed to determine if a recipient meets specific standards, and documentation must be maintained to support eligibility determinations. In accordance with 2 CFR 200, management should have an adequate system of internal controls procedures in place to ensure an applicant is properly determined or redetermined for benefits. Section III. Federal Award Findings and Questioned Costs 130Burke County, North Carolina Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs For the Year Ended June 30, 2024 Condition: Questioned Costs: Context: Effect: Cause: Recommendation: Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Passed through the NC Department of Health and Human Services Program Name: Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid; Title XIX) AL #: 93.778 Finding: 2024-002 Inaccurate Resource Entry SIGNIFICANT DEFICENCY ELIGIBILITY Criteria: There was 1 error discovered during our procedures where income or household size was incorrectly calculated or inaccurate information was entered into the case file. There was no known affect to eligibility and there were no known questioned costs. We examined 60 cases from of a total of 1,076,004 Medicaid claims from the Medicaid beneficiary report provided by NC Department of Health and Human Services to re-determine eligibility. These findings are being reported with the financial statement audit as it relates to Medicaid administrative cost compliance audit. For those certifications/re-certifications there was a chance that information was not properly documented and reconciled to NC FAST and a participant could have been approved for benefits for which they were not eligible. Ineffective record keeping and ineffective case review process, incomplete documentation, and incorrect application of rules for purposes of determining eligibility. Files should be reviewed internally to ensure proper documentation is in place for eligibility. Workers should be retrained on what files should contain and the importance of complete and accurate record keeping. We recommend that all files include online verifications, documented resources of income and those amounts agree to information in NC FAST. The results found or documentation made in case notes should clearly indicate what actions were performed and the results of those actions. The County agrees with the finding. See Corrective Action Plan in the following section. In accordance with Medicaid Manual MA-2230, Medicaid for Aged, Blind and Disabled case records should contain documentation that verifications were done in preparation of the application and these items will agree to reports in the NC FAST system. In this process, the countable resources should be calculated correctly and agree back to the amounts in the NC FAST system. Any items discovered in the verification process should be considered countable or noncountable resources and explained within the documentation. Section III. Federal Award Findings and Questioned Costs (continued) 131
Burke County, North Carolina Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs For the Year Ended June 30, 2024 Condition: Questioned Costs: Context: Effect: Cause: Recommendation: Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Passed through the NC Department of Health and Human Services Program Name: Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid; Title XIX) AL #: 93.778 Finding: 2024-002 Inaccurate Resource Entry SIGNIFICANT DEFICENCY ELIGIBILITY Criteria: There was 1 error discovered during our procedures where income or household size was incorrectly calculated or inaccurate information was entered into the case file. There was no known affect to eligibility and there were no known questioned costs. We examined 60 cases from of a total of 1,076,004 Medicaid claims from the Medicaid beneficiary report provided by NC Department of Health and Human Services to re-determine eligibility. These findings are being reported with the financial statement audit as it relates to Medicaid administrative cost compliance audit. For those certifications/re-certifications there was a chance that information was not properly documented and reconciled to NC FAST and a participant could have been approved for benefits for which they were not eligible. Ineffective record keeping and ineffective case review process, incomplete documentation, and incorrect application of rules for purposes of determining eligibility. Files should be reviewed internally to ensure proper documentation is in place for eligibility. Workers should be retrained on what files should contain and the importance of complete and accurate record keeping. We recommend that all files include online verifications, documented resources of income and those amounts agree to information in NC FAST. The results found or documentation made in case notes should clearly indicate what actions were performed and the results of those actions. The County agrees with the finding. See Corrective Action Plan in the following section. In accordance with Medicaid Manual MA-2230, Medicaid for Aged, Blind and Disabled case records should contain documentation that verifications were done in preparation of the application and these items will agree to reports in the NC FAST system. In this process, the countable resources should be calculated correctly and agree back to the amounts in the NC FAST system. Any items discovered in the verification process should be considered countable or noncountable resources and explained within the documentation. Section III. Federal Award Findings and Questioned Costs (continued) 131Burke County, North Carolina Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs For the Year Ended June 30, 2024 Condition: Questioned Costs: Context: Effect: Cause: Recommendation: Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Passed through the NC Department of Health and Human Services Program Name: Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid; Title XIX) AL #: 93.778 Finding: 2024-003 Inadequate Request For Information SIGNIFICANT DEFICENCY ELIGIBILITY Criteria: Condition: The County agrees with the finding. See Corrective Action Plan in the following section. In accordance with 42 CFR 435, documentation must be obtained as needed to determine if a recipient meets specific standards, and documentation must be maintained to support eligibility determinations. Electronic matches are required at applications and redeterminations. There were 2 errors discovered during our procedures where required information needed for eligibility determinations were not requested or not requested timely at applications or redeterminations. Section III. Federal Award Findings and Questioned Costs (continued) There was no known affect to eligibility and there were no known questioned costs. We examined 60 cases from of a total of 1,076,004 Medicaid claims from the Medicaid beneficiary report provided by NC Department of Health and Human Services to re-determine eligibility. These findings are being reported with the financial statement audit as it relates to Medicaid administrative cost compliance audit. For those certifications/re-certifications there was a chance that information was not properly documented and reconciled to NC FAST and a participant could have been approved for benefits for which they were not eligible. Ineffective record keeping and ineffective case review process, incomplete documentation, and incorrect application of rules for purposes of determining eligibility. Case files should be reviewed internally to ensure correct calculations of resources are made, proper information is included in the case file, and necessary procedures are taken when determining eligibility. The results found or documentation made in case notes should clearly indicate what actions were performed and the results of those actions. There were 5 errors discovered during our procedures where resources were imcorrectly calculated or were not properly documented in the case file. 132
Burke County, North Carolina Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs For the Year Ended June 30, 2024 Condition: Questioned Costs: Context: Effect: Cause: Recommendation: Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Passed through the NC Department of Health and Human Services Program Name: Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid; Title XIX) AL #: 93.778 Finding: 2024-003 Inadequate Request For Information SIGNIFICANT DEFICENCY ELIGIBILITY Criteria: Condition: The County agrees with the finding. See Corrective Action Plan in the following section. In accordance with 42 CFR 435, documentation must be obtained as needed to determine if a recipient meets specific standards, and documentation must be maintained to support eligibility determinations. Electronic matches are required at applications and redeterminations. There were 2 errors discovered during our procedures where required information needed for eligibility determinations were not requested or not requested timely at applications or redeterminations. Section III. Federal Award Findings and Questioned Costs (continued) There was no known affect to eligibility and there were no known questioned costs. We examined 60 cases from of a total of 1,076,004 Medicaid claims from the Medicaid beneficiary report provided by NC Department of Health and Human Services to re-determine eligibility. These findings are being reported with the financial statement audit as it relates to Medicaid administrative cost compliance audit. For those certifications/re-certifications there was a chance that information was not properly documented and reconciled to NC FAST and a participant could have been approved for benefits for which they were not eligible. Ineffective record keeping and ineffective case review process, incomplete documentation, and incorrect application of rules for purposes of determining eligibility. Case files should be reviewed internally to ensure correct calculations of resources are made, proper information is included in the case file, and necessary procedures are taken when determining eligibility. The results found or documentation made in case notes should clearly indicate what actions were performed and the results of those actions. There were 5 errors discovered during our procedures where resources were imcorrectly calculated or were not properly documented in the case file. 132Burke County, North Carolina Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs For the Year Ended June 30, 2024 Questioned Costs: Context: Effect: Cause: Recommendation: Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: There was no known affect to eligibility and there were no known questioned costs. We examined 60 cases from of a total of 1,076,004 Medicaid claims from the Medicaid beneficiary report provided by NC Department of Health and Human Services to re-determine eligibility. These findings are being reported with the financial statement audit as it relates to Medicaid administrative cost compliance audit. For those certifications/re-certifications there was a chance that information was not properly documented and reconciled to NC FAST and applicants could have been approved for benefits for which they were not eligible. Ineffective record keeping and ineffective case review process, incomplete documentation, and incorrect application of rules for purposes of determining eligibility. Files should be reviewed internally to ensure all required verifications have been completed and information requested from the applicant/beneficiary or through various systems have been included and necessary procedures are taken when determining eligibility. The results found or documentation made in case notes should clearly indicate what actions were performed and the results of those actions. The County agrees with the finding. See Corrective Action Plan in the following section. Section III. Federal Award Findings and Questioned Costs (continued) 133
Burke County, North Carolina Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs For the Year Ended June 30, 2024 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Passed through the NC Department of Health and Human Services Program Name: Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) Cluster AL #: 10.551 and 10.561 Finding: 2024-004 Internal Controls Related to Food and Nutrition Services Eligibility SIGNIFICANT DEFICENCY ELIGIBILITY Criteria: Condition: Questioned Costs: Context: Effect: Section III. Federal Award Findings and Questioned Costs (continued) Per Section 200.303 of the Uniform Grant Guidance, a non-federal entity must establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. The State has provided policies and procedures to ensure that the County is meeting the federal guidance, relevant policies are: Food and Nutrition Services Policy 305 describes the verification sources and requirements and the FNS units primary responsibility for providing documentary evidence to support statements on applications and recertifications and procedures required if the statements by applicant/beneficiary are questionable. Food and Nutrition Services Policy 300 describes the sources of income countable and not countable to the household for determining financial eligibility. Food and Nutrition Services Policy 310 describes the procedures related to verifying changes in income (i.e. termination, end of contract, temporary, etc.). There were a total of 2 errors found in our testing, both instances where earned income was incorrectly caclculated and entered in NCFAST. Of these 2 errors, 1 of these could potentially be an eligibility error. Due to the nature of the populations provided from which the samples were chosen, we are unable to calculate questioned costs for the above mentioned potential eligibility issue. We examined 25 of 96,362 FNS cases from a report of all active FNS beneficiaries provided by the County's Department of Social Services. The finding is being reported with the financial statement audit as it relates to FNS administrative cost compliance audit. For those certifications/re-certifications there was a chance that information was not properly documented and reconciled to NC FAST and a participant could have been approved for benefits for which they were not eligible. 134