Audit 382642

Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture Federal Program Name: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Cluster Assistance Listing Number: 10.561 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: 242MN101S2514 – 2024 Passed Through Entity: Minnesota Department of Human Services Pass Through Number: H55240010 Compliance Requirement: Special Provisions Award Period: 2024 Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control Over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: Agencies are required to automate their SNAP operations and computerize their systems for obtaining, maintaining, utilizing, and transmitting information concerning SNAP (7 CFR sections 272.10 and 277.18). This includes: (1) processing and storing all case file information necessary for eligibility determination and benefit calculation, identifying specific elements that affect eligibility, and notifying the certification unit of cases requiring notices of case disposition, adverse action and mass change, and expiration; (2) providing an automatic cutoff of participation for households that have not been recertified at the end of their certification period by reapplying and being determined eligible for a new period (7 CFR sections 272.10(b)(1)(iii) and 273.10(f) and (g)); and (3) generating data necessary to meet federal issuance and reconciliation reporting requirements. Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations § 200.303 states that the auditee must establish and maintain effective internal control over the federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the auditee is managing the federal award in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award. Condition: The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) maintains the computer system, MAXIS, which is used by the County to support the eligibility determination process. The sample size was based on guidance from chapter 11 of the AICPA Audit Guide, Government Auditing Standards and Single Audits. While periodic supervisory case reviews are performed to monitor compliance with grant requirements for eligibility, when performing our case file review for eligibility, we noted: • There was no verification of income on 2 of the 60 casefiles tested. • There was not a proper documented redetermination of eligibility on 1 of the 60 casefiles tested. Questioned costs: None Context: Three of the 60 casefiles tested had the above noted issues. Cause: The County has had significant turnover and new staff over the past few years as well as increases in caseloads. There was also changing guidance as waivers from the pandemic expired. All of this provided more opportunities for errors to occur. Effect: Improper input or updating of information in MAXIS and lack of verification or follow-up of eligibility determining factors increase the risk that a program participant will receive benefits when they are not eligible. Repeat finding: Yes – 2023-007 Recommendation: We recommend the County implement processes and procedures to provide reasonable assurance that all necessary documentation to support eligibility determination exists and is properly input or updated in MAXIS and issues are followed up in a timely manner. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the finding.

Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Agriculture Federal Program Name: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Cluster Assistance Listing Number: 10.561 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: 232MN101S2514 – 2024 Passed Through Entity: Minnesota Department of Human Services Pass Through Numbers: H55240010 Compliance Requirement: Procurement, Suspension, and Debarment Award Period: 2024 Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance Criteria or specific requirement: The County must follow Uniform Guidance Subsection 200.320 Methods of Procurement for all applicable procurements over the County’s micro-purchase threshold. For purchases over the County's micro-purchase threshold of $10,000 but not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold of $250,000, the County should follow small purchase procedures. If small purchase procedures are used, price or rate quotations must be obtained from an adequate number of qualified sources as determined appropriate by the County. Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations § 200.303 states that the auditee must establish and maintain effective internal control over the federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the auditee is managing the federal award in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award. Condition: During our testing, it was noted that for one contract out of four tested the County was unable to provide documentation showing that the county followed the open competition requirement. Questioned costs: None Context: One out of the four contracts tested had no documentation of open competition. Cause: The County purchasing likely followed County purchase policies for nonfederal expenditures. Effect: It would be possible that the County could end up spending more federal dollars than necessary for a product or service, if they are not going through the steps to ensure they are utilizing the best vendor for the county and documenting this process each year. Repeat finding: 2023-010 Recommendation: We recommend the County follow their federal purchasing policy in all their federal programs and retain documentation of that process occurring. As necessary, the County may need to add internal controls that are specific to each program to ensure this properly occurs. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the finding.

Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Name: Medical Assistance Assistance Listing Numbers: 93.778 Federal Award Identification Numbers and Years: 2405MN5ADM - 2024 Passed Through Entity: Minnesota Department of Human Services Pass Through Numbers: H55245048 Compliance Requirement: Allowable Activities Award Period: 2024 Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control Over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) requires a listing of employees working on social services programs to be submitted quarterly, known as a random moment study listing (RMS listing). DHS then determines the amount applicable to the applicable income maintenance programs through random moment studies. Each quarter the County’s coordinator reviews their RMS listing to ensure the employees listed are accurate for the people working and being coded in the general ledger. Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations § 200.303 states that the auditee must establish and maintain effective internal control over the federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the auditee is managing the federal award in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award. Condition: One individual was included in the 2nd quarter Social Services RMS listing sent to the State that was not supposed to be included in the listing, one individual was noted to have the same issue on the 2nd quarter of the public health local collaborative time study participant listing. Questioned costs: None Context: In our testing of two of the eight quarterly RMS listings, one individual was included in the 2nd quarter Social Services RMS listing sent to the State that was not supposed to be included in the listings, one individual was noted to have the same issue on the 2nd quarter public health local collaborative time study participant listing. There were 335 County staff listed in the 2nd quarter’s RMS listing and 52 participants listed in the 2nd quarter public health LCTS RMS listing. Cause: The County's RMS controls and procedures were not robust enough to note that the RMS listings should have excluded the noted individuals. Increased turnover and growth of the programs also created an increase in the number changes that were needed to be made to the listings. Effect: Lack of proper controls could affect allocation of fundings due to the staff not being in MAXIS or actually assigned to social services or public health LCTS case files to properly respond to the random moment requests that are sent by the State as part of the random moment study. Repeat Finding: Yes 2023-009 Recommendation: We recommend that the County review its procedures and control to ensure all RMS listings sent to the State properly exclude those necessary individuals no longer working in the programs. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.

Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Name: Medical Assistance Assistance Listing Numbers: 93.778 Federal Award Identification Numbers and Years: 2405MN5ADM - 2024 Passed Through Entity: Minnesota Department of Human Services Pass Through Numbers: H55245048 Compliance Requirement: Special Provisions Award Period: 2024 Type of Finding: Material Weakness in Internal Control Over Compliance, Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations § 200.303 states that the auditee must establish and maintain effective internal control over the federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the auditee is managing the federal award in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award. The County and the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) have a contract surrounding the federal funds. This contract has several obligations and reporting requirements the County must follow including the requirement the county must work with its collaborative partners to ensure that the LCTS coordinators and staff sampled by the LCTS have completed training approved by the State in the LCTS. Condition: The County was unable to provide a documented formal review process to ensure that LCTS fiscal site contacts were trained on completing cost schedules. Questioned costs: None Context: The County did not provide the documentation of the review over the noted requirement. Cause: The County did not maintain a record of their review process. Also, there has been fewer resources provided in recent years from the Minnesota Department of Human Services to help meet the specific training requirements of LCTS fiscal site contacts completing cost schedule reports. Effect: There is no way to verify the review process was completed and completed timely. Repeat finding: 2023-013 Recommendation: We recommend that the County reviews its polices and controls to ensure there is a formally documented control that ensures all required training of LCTS fiscal site contacts is completed and the documentation of the completions of the training is retained. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the finding.