El Proyecto del Barrio, Inc. acknowledges the finding related to the incorrect administration of sliding fee discounts. We are committed to strengthening the administration of the sliding fee program to ensure full compliance with grant requirements. To address these issues and prevent recurrence, ...
El Proyecto del Barrio, Inc. acknowledges the finding related to the incorrect administration of sliding fee discounts. We are committed to strengthening the administration of the sliding fee program to ensure full compliance with grant requirements. To address these issues and prevent recurrence, the following corrective actions are being implemented:
1. Revised Application and Documentation Requirements:
o The Sliding Fee Program application forms are being updated to include structured sections for staff to record income from supporting documentation (e.g., pay stubs, tax returns), rather than relying on the patient to write their income on the application, which will greatly reduce incorrect income stated on support. Staff will be responsible for calculating annual gross income based on supporting documentation and have a checklist to ensure documentation is complete and retained/uploaded in the system.
2. Two-Step Review Process:
o A staff member (the “Preparer) will calculate the annual gross income, determine the household size, and determine the eligible sliding fee discount, and a second staff member (the “Reviewer”) will independently review and verify the Preparer’s calculations and determinations based on the supporting documentation. Both parties will document their review of the application to establish accountability.
3. Staff Training and Ongoing Competency Checks:
o Comprehensive refresher training will be provided to all staff involved in the sliding fee program process, including the use of the poverty guidelines, income calculation methods, the new forms, entering income and household size into the system, and uploading support to the system.
4. Formal Review:
o The Billing Department will conduct regular audits of completed sliding fee applications and eligibility determination forms to ensure compliance with policies. Errors will be tracked and addressed through corrective action and coaching.
El Proyecto del Barrio, Inc. remains committed to accurate, compliant, and equitable implementation of the Sliding Fee Program.
Person Responsible: Ricardo Ornelas
Position of Responsible Party: Chief Financial Officer
Completion Date: August 31, 2025