Audit 396525

Finding No: 2025-001 Cash Management Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Pass-Through Entities: N/A Assistance Listing Number: 93.493 Federal Program: Congressional Directives Federal Award Year: September 30, 2023 – September 29, 2026 Per section 2 CFR 200.305, non-federal entities must minimize the time elapsing between the transfer of funds from the US Treasury and disbursement by the non-federal entity for direct program or project costs. Interest earned on Federal funds must be returned annually to the Department of Health and Human Services Payment Management System (PMS). Expenditures must be incurred prior to the date of the reimbursement request. Per section 2 CFR 200.303, non-Federal entities must establish, document 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. Condition Found The System entity did not minimize the time elapsing between the transfer of funds and disbursement and did not remit interest earned on advances to the designated federal agency. The System requested reimbursement of federal grant funds of $1,042,278 over 350 days in advance of incurring the related expenditures for the St. Francis Medical Center Community Project Funding Congressionally Directed Spending – Construction award (ALN 93.493) and did not perform the required interest calculation or remit interest timely, representing a departure from the Uniform Guidance cash management requirements. We tested 100% of the expenditures and related cash draw activity for this award during the audit period; therefore, no sampling was used and no extrapolation was necessary. Possible Cause and Asserted Effect The System's internal controls did not ensure the federal funds requested for the program were either already expended or encumbered to be expended timely and did not implement the process steps and control to periodically identify and calculate the resulting accumulated interest earned on federal cash balances drawn in advance related to this program. Failing to minimize the time between the transfer and disbursement of funds, as well as failing to remit interest earned on advances, constitutes noncompliance with the Uniform Guidance.Questioned Cost Interest earned of $44,750 Statistical Validity The sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. Identification of Whether the Audit Finding is a Repeat of a Finding in the Immediately Prior Audit No. Recommendation We recommend that the System strengthen its internal controls over cash management controls to ensure that all federal fund drawdowns are based on incurred expenditures and documented immediate cash needs, and that a process is implemented to periodically calculate and remit any interest earned on advance balances as required by the Uniform Guidance. View of Responsible Officials Management concurs with this finding. The System is implementing a management review control through periodic inquiry and review of advance fundings to ensure drawdowns are supported by incurred expenditures or are for immediate cash needs and any interest calculations to ensure timely compliance with the Uniform Guidance. Corrective Action Plan In the event that the System receives federal cash advances prior to the cash expenditures, the System will perform an additional financial review of any advanced payments compared to the related expenditures. Should accounting identify advances not yet spent, they will inquire with the grant administrator responsible for the grant to review their advance fundings, any potential resulting interest calculations. Anticipated Completion Date June 30, 2026 Name of Contact Person for Corrective Action Amanda Hymel, Corporate Controller