Finding 1175842 (2025-101)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-03-02

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Inaccurate calculation of sliding fee scale discounts due to incomplete attestation forms.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 42 CFR Section 51c.303(f) regarding proper documentation and calculation of patient income levels.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement random reviews of SFS applications to identify and correct errors promptly.

Finding Text

Special Tests and Provisions - Sliding Fee Scale Discounts Federal program: FAL# 93.224 Health Centers Cluster: Health Center Program U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal grant number: 24H80CS00752 Questioned Costs: None Criteria: Patients applying for sliding fee scale (SFS) discounts should have their income levels adequately documented and accurately calculated, and patients should be given the proper discount based upon their income level in accordance with 42 CFR Section 51c.303(f). Condition: The Center requires patients that apply for the SFS discount to complete attestation forms that includes their household sizes and income levels, and these forms are then used to determine patients' SFS discounts. One SFS encounter that we tested had incorrectly calculated SFS discount applied in the patient management system. Cause: Unknown Effect: Due to incomplete attestation forms, we could not determine whether the Center consistently provided patients with the proper discount based upon their income levels, and internal controls over compliance requirements do not appear to have been operating effectively to detect calculation errors on attestation forms. Recommendation: To help ensure that SFS discounts are properly calculated and documented, the Center should perform random reviews of its SFS applications to detect and correct errors or incomplete applications on a timely basis.

Corrective Action Plan

Special Tests and Provisions - Sliding Fee Scale Discounts Recommendation: To help ensure that SFS discounts are properly calculated and documented, the Center should perform random reviews of its SFS applications to detect and correct errors or incomplete applications on a timely basis. Action Taken: The Center agrees with this recommendation and will ensure that the SFS programs will be properly applied. Contact Person: Humberto Duran Anticipated Completion Date: May 31, 2026

Categories

Special Tests & Provisions Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.224 HEALTH CENTER PROGRAM (COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, MIGRANT HEALTH CENTERS, HEALTH CARE FOR THE HOMELESS, AND PUBLIC HOUSING PRIMARY CARE) $4.47M
93.912 RURAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES OUTREACH, RURAL HEALTH NETWORK DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL HEALTH CARE PROVIDER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT $928,616
10.557 WIC SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN $570,631
93.539 PPHF CAPACITY BUILDING ASSISTANCE TO STRENGTHEN PUBLIC HEALTH IMMUNIZATION INFRASTRUCTURE AND PERFORMANCE FINANCED IN PART BY PREVENTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDS $228,874
93.671 FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND SERVICES/DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES $144,718
93.898 CANCER PREVENTION AND CONTROL PROGRAMS FOR STATE, TERRITORIAL AND TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS $135,600
93.527 GRANTS FOR NEW AND EXPANDED SERVICES UNDER THE HEALTH CENTER PROGRAM $97,106
16.588 VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN FORMULA GRANTS $94,974
93.092 AFFORDABLE CARE ACT (ACA) PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY EDUCATION PROGRAM $88,800
16.589 RURAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM $49,504
93.838 LUNG DISEASES RESEARCH $42,960
93.767 CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM $21,346
93.135 CENTERS FOR RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION FOR HEALTH PROMOTION AND DISEASE PREVENTION $16,008
93.310 TRANS-NIH RESEARCH SUPPORT $10,259