Finding 1160367 (2023-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
ABL
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2025-10-13

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Lack of documentation for review and approval of expenditures and reports related to the COVID-19 Provider Relief Fund.
  • Impacted Requirements: Failure to comply with CFR 200.303(a) regarding effective internal controls over federal awards.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement policies for independent review of all documentation before submission to ensure compliance and accuracy.

Finding Text

Department of Health and Human Services Federal Assistance Listing #93.498 COVID-19 Provider Relief Fund and American Rescue Plan (ARP) Rural Distribution Applicable Federal Award Number and Year -Period 4 TIN #736060815 Activities Allowed or Unallowed, Allowable Costs/Cost Principles, and Reporting Material Weakness in Internal Control Over Compliance Criteria: CFR 200.303(a) establishes that the auditee must establish and maintain effective internal control over the federal award that provides assurance that the entity is managing the federal award in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and conditions of the federal award. Condition: There was no documentation of review and approval of the expenditure listing, lost revenue calculation, or the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Period 4 report prior to submission of the HHS Period 4 report. Cause: The Authority did not have an adequate internal control policy in place to ensure review and approval of expenditures and lost revenue claimed under the federal program, as well as the HHS Period 4 report prior to submission. Effect: Without a secondary review and approval, there is a possibility that ineligible expenditures or lost revenue may be claimed under the program and the HHS Period 4 report may not be accurately completed. Questioned Costs: None. Context: There was one lost revenue calculation, one expenditure detail and one HHS Period 4 report and all were tested. Repeat Finding from Prior Years: Yes, finding number 2021-001. Recommendation: We recommend management implement policies and procedures to ensure a complete review of supporting documentation and any reporting to a federal agency prior to submission by an individual separate from the preparer. Views of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding.

Corrective Action Plan

Activities Allowed or Unallowed, Allowable Costs/Cost Principles, and Reporting - Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance Federal Agency Name: Department of Health and Human Services Assistance Listing Number: 93.498 Program Name: Provider Relief Fund and American Rescue Plan (ARP) Rural Distribution Finding Summary: There was no documentation of review and approval of the expenditure listing, lost revenue calculation, or the Department of Health and Human Services Period 4 report prior to submission of the HHS Period 4 report. Responsible Individuals: Dawn Ballard Corrective Action Plan: Management agrees with the finding. Due to the small accounting staff, there was little internal review of the calculations resulting in unallowed expenditures based on underlying supporting schedules that was not recognized until single audit. The Authority has adopted policies where every spreadsheet and schedule will be reviewed and checked by a second member of the Administration team as well as final review by the Contracted CPA. Anticipated Completion Date: September 29, 2023

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Eligibility Material Weakness Reporting

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1160366 2023-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.498 Provider Relief Fund and American Rescue Plan (arp) Rural Distribution $770,324
93.301 Small Rural Hospital Improvement Grant Program $11,520