Finding No. 2025-001 Federal Award Finding Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance Noncompliance over Special Tests and Provisions (Sliding Fee Discount Schedule) Cowlitz Family Health Center (CFHC) respectfully submits the following corrective action plan for the year ended Decem...
Finding No. 2025-001 Federal Award Finding Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance Noncompliance over Special Tests and Provisions (Sliding Fee Discount Schedule) Cowlitz Family Health Center (CFHC) respectfully submits the following corrective action plan for the year ended December 31, 2025. Summary of finding: Testing of 40 patient encounters identified 2 instances in which the sliding fee discount schedule (SFDS) was not applied in accordance with established requirements. These instances included the incorrect application of the sliding fee scale and the failure to apply the discount when required. As a result, certain patients were undercharged or overcharged for services received. Planned corrective action: CFHC management concurs with the finding. CFHC has policies and procedures in place to ensure compliance. CFHC will provide additional training to the Patient Services Representatives and Billing Clerks to ensure the existing policies and procedures are followed. The CFHC Billing Manager will develop additional reviews to discover, correct, and educate when non-compliance is suspected. CFHC will provide targeted trainings as necessary for site level personnel. Monitoring and review will be an ongoing effort as the positions responsible for real-time compliance tend to be highly transitory. Additional review steps have already been implemented and will become part of the typical workflows to monitor compliance. Anticipated Completion Date: June 1, 2026 Contact Person: Jim Merrill, Chief Financial Officer Email: jmerrill@cfamhc.org Phone: 360-703-6701 Name and Address of Independent Public Accounting Firm: Aprio, LLP 3 Centerpointe Dr, Ste 300 Lake Oswego, OR 97035