Finding 1057137 (2023-001)

Finding 2023-001 – Allowable Activities and Costs of Provider Relief Fund Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance Program: COVID-19 Provider Relief Fund (PRF) and American Rescue Plan (ARP) Rural Distribution Federal Assistance Listing Number: 93.498 Federal Grantor: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Pass-Through Entity: None Criteria: Per 2 CFR 200.430(i), personnel costs charged to federal grants are required to be supported by documentation including time records. Per 2 CFR 200.303, a non-federal entity must establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal awards that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and terms and conditions of the Federal award. Condition: Our audit procedures over the calculation of COVID patient days used to allocate the payroll cost to the PRF/ARP federal program disclosed the amounts were not properly calculated. Cause: The Medical Center has controls in place to review the calculation; however, the control did not operate to identify an error in the calculation of COVID patient days. Effect: The error in the calculation resulted in underreporting payroll costs allowed to be charged to PRF/ARP in the amount of $566,272. Questioned Costs: None Perspective: The error in the calculation resulted in underreporting payroll costs allowed to be charged to PRF/ARP in the amount of $566,272. Repeat Finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend the Medical Center implement additional internal controls over compliance in order to properly identify any errors in calculation. View of Responsible Officials: See management’s response to the finding in the accompanying Corrective Action Plan.