FINDING 2023-003 - Sliding Fee Discount Program MATERIAL WEAKNESS; NONCOMPLIANCE Identification of the Federal Program: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; direct awards ALN: 93.224/93 .527, Health Center Program Cluster Compliance Requirement: Special Tests & Provisions Criteria: Section ...
FINDING 2023-003 - Sliding Fee Discount Program MATERIAL WEAKNESS; NONCOMPLIANCE Identification of the Federal Program: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; direct awards ALN: 93.224/93 .527, Health Center Program Cluster Compliance Requirement: Special Tests & Provisions Criteria: Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act and the HRSA Health Center Program Compliance Manual require health centers to maintain and operate a board-approved Sliding Fee Discount Program that adjusts patient charges based on income and family size using the current Federal Pove1ty Guidelines, applies uniformly to all patients and all in-scope services, and is supported by adequate documentation of eligibility determinations. In addition, Uniform Guidance requires nonfederal entities to establish and maintain effective internal controls over federal programs to provide reasonable assurance of compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and award terms. Condition: During testing of the Sliding Fee Discount Program within the Health Center Cluster, the Center could not provide documentation of the appropriate sliding fee discounts for certain patients in accordance with federal requirements. Context: The condition was identified through testing of the Health Center Cluster as pa1i of the single audit, which included testing patient fee assessments and sliding fee discount application as a special test required under the program. Controls were determined to be ineffective in 2 of 40 test items. Noncompliance was noted in 2 of 25 test items. Statistical sampling was not utilized. Cause: The condition was caused by inadequate internal controls over the implementation and monitoring of the Sliding Fee Discount Program, including limited supervisory review to ensure all sliding fee applications are maintained, reviewed, and properly applied. Effect or Potential Effect: The Center's failure to maintain documentation surrounding sliding fee discounts in accordance with federal requirements increases the risk of noncompliance with Health Center Program requirements and may result in patients being charged amounts not aligned with their ability to pay. The condition also increases the risk of adverse findings during HRSA oversight or other federal monitoring activities. Questioned Costs: No questioned costs were identified as a result of this finding. Repeat Finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: The Center should enhance internal controls over the Sliding Fee Discount Program by ensuring consistent documentation of income and family size, timely reassessment of eligibility in accordance with policy, consistent application of the board-approved sliding fee discount schedule to all applicable in-scope services, and periodic monitoring and supervisory review to ensure ongoingcompliance. Views of Responsible Officials: Neighborhood Medical Center has implemented quarterly SFDP internal audits and training for the intake staff to improve compliance oversight and documentation accuracy. A standardized audit tracking log documenting charts are reviewed, findings identified and corrective actions completed. An annual refresher for the staff has been implemented. A quick-reference eligibility checklist has also been developed for staff use. Person Responsible for Corrective Action: Ronica Mathis and Shenika Mathews Anticipated Completion Date for Corrective Action: This practice has already been implemented.