Audit 39703

Federal program information: Funding agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Title: Health Center Program Cluster Assistance listing numbers: 93.224 and 93.527 Award year and number: 2022; H80CS00205-21-00; H80CS00205-21-01 Criteria: According to 42 USC 254(k)(3)(E), (F), and (G), health centers must prepare and apply a sliding fee discount schedule (SFDS) so that the amounts owed for health center services by eligible patients are adjusted (discounted) based on the patient?s ability to pay. Condition: Documentation supporting income verification for eligible patients did not agree to the income amounts applied to the sliding fee discount schedule. The amount of income applied to the sliding fee discount schedule was either estimated or rounded down. Questioned Costs: None. Context: Of a sample of 25 patients who received sliding fee discounts, five patients did not have documentation of income supporting the amounts used in applying the sliding fee discount schedule. Cause: Documentation of patient income was not accurately documented at the time of intake as a result of staffing turnover. Effect: Without accurate documentation of patient income, the sliding fee discount was not correctly applied. Auditor?s Recommendations: Management should reiterate the importance of using accurate documentation of patient income when applying the sliding fee discounts. Management should consider providing additional training to staff over the patient intake process and perform periodic spot checks to verify the accuracy of patient income.

Federal program information: Funding agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Title: Health Center Program Cluster Assistance listing numbers: 93.224 and 93.527 Award year and number: 2022; H80CS00205-21-00; H80CS00205-21-01 Criteria: According to 42 USC 254(k)(3)(E), (F), and (G), health centers must prepare and apply a sliding fee discount schedule (SFDS) so that the amounts owed for health center services by eligible patients are adjusted (discounted) based on the patient?s ability to pay. Condition: Documentation supporting income verification for eligible patients did not agree to the income amounts applied to the sliding fee discount schedule. The amount of income applied to the sliding fee discount schedule was either estimated or rounded down. Questioned Costs: None. Context: Of a sample of 25 patients who received sliding fee discounts, five patients did not have documentation of income supporting the amounts used in applying the sliding fee discount schedule. Cause: Documentation of patient income was not accurately documented at the time of intake as a result of staffing turnover. Effect: Without accurate documentation of patient income, the sliding fee discount was not correctly applied. Auditor?s Recommendations: Management should reiterate the importance of using accurate documentation of patient income when applying the sliding fee discounts. Management should consider providing additional training to staff over the patient intake process and perform periodic spot checks to verify the accuracy of patient income.

Federal program information: Funding agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Title: Health Center Program Cluster Assistance listing numbers: 93.224 and 93.527 Award year and number: 2022; H80CS00205-21-00; H80CS00205-21-01 Criteria: According to 42 USC 254(k)(3)(E), (F), and (G), health centers must prepare and apply a sliding fee discount schedule (SFDS) so that the amounts owed for health center services by eligible patients are adjusted (discounted) based on the patient?s ability to pay. Condition: Documentation supporting income verification for eligible patients did not agree to the income amounts applied to the sliding fee discount schedule. The amount of income applied to the sliding fee discount schedule was either estimated or rounded down. Questioned Costs: None. Context: Of a sample of 25 patients who received sliding fee discounts, five patients did not have documentation of income supporting the amounts used in applying the sliding fee discount schedule. Cause: Documentation of patient income was not accurately documented at the time of intake as a result of staffing turnover. Effect: Without accurate documentation of patient income, the sliding fee discount was not correctly applied. Auditor?s Recommendations: Management should reiterate the importance of using accurate documentation of patient income when applying the sliding fee discounts. Management should consider providing additional training to staff over the patient intake process and perform periodic spot checks to verify the accuracy of patient income.

Federal program information: Funding agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Title: Health Center Program Cluster Assistance listing numbers: 93.224 and 93.527 Award year and number: 2022; H80CS00205-21-00; H80CS00205-21-01 Criteria: According to 42 USC 254(k)(3)(E), (F), and (G), health centers must prepare and apply a sliding fee discount schedule (SFDS) so that the amounts owed for health center services by eligible patients are adjusted (discounted) based on the patient?s ability to pay. Condition: Documentation supporting income verification for eligible patients did not agree to the income amounts applied to the sliding fee discount schedule. The amount of income applied to the sliding fee discount schedule was either estimated or rounded down. Questioned Costs: None. Context: Of a sample of 25 patients who received sliding fee discounts, five patients did not have documentation of income supporting the amounts used in applying the sliding fee discount schedule. Cause: Documentation of patient income was not accurately documented at the time of intake as a result of staffing turnover. Effect: Without accurate documentation of patient income, the sliding fee discount was not correctly applied. Auditor?s Recommendations: Management should reiterate the importance of using accurate documentation of patient income when applying the sliding fee discounts. Management should consider providing additional training to staff over the patient intake process and perform periodic spot checks to verify the accuracy of patient income.

Federal program information: Funding agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Title: Health Center Program Cluster Assistance listing numbers: 93.224 and 93.527 Award year and number: 2022; H80CS00205-21-00; H80CS00205-21-01 Criteria: According to 42 USC 254(k)(3)(E), (F), and (G), health centers must prepare and apply a sliding fee discount schedule (SFDS) so that the amounts owed for health center services by eligible patients are adjusted (discounted) based on the patient?s ability to pay. Condition: Documentation supporting income verification for eligible patients did not agree to the income amounts applied to the sliding fee discount schedule. The amount of income applied to the sliding fee discount schedule was either estimated or rounded down. Questioned Costs: None. Context: Of a sample of 25 patients who received sliding fee discounts, five patients did not have documentation of income supporting the amounts used in applying the sliding fee discount schedule. Cause: Documentation of patient income was not accurately documented at the time of intake as a result of staffing turnover. Effect: Without accurate documentation of patient income, the sliding fee discount was not correctly applied. Auditor?s Recommendations: Management should reiterate the importance of using accurate documentation of patient income when applying the sliding fee discounts. Management should consider providing additional training to staff over the patient intake process and perform periodic spot checks to verify the accuracy of patient income.

Federal program information: Funding agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Title: Health Center Program Cluster Assistance listing numbers: 93.224 and 93.527 Award year and number: 2022; H80CS00205-21-00; H80CS00205-21-01 Criteria: According to 42 USC 254(k)(3)(E), (F), and (G), health centers must prepare and apply a sliding fee discount schedule (SFDS) so that the amounts owed for health center services by eligible patients are adjusted (discounted) based on the patient?s ability to pay. Condition: Documentation supporting income verification for eligible patients did not agree to the income amounts applied to the sliding fee discount schedule. The amount of income applied to the sliding fee discount schedule was either estimated or rounded down. Questioned Costs: None. Context: Of a sample of 25 patients who received sliding fee discounts, five patients did not have documentation of income supporting the amounts used in applying the sliding fee discount schedule. Cause: Documentation of patient income was not accurately documented at the time of intake as a result of staffing turnover. Effect: Without accurate documentation of patient income, the sliding fee discount was not correctly applied. Auditor?s Recommendations: Management should reiterate the importance of using accurate documentation of patient income when applying the sliding fee discounts. Management should consider providing additional training to staff over the patient intake process and perform periodic spot checks to verify the accuracy of patient income.