Finding 1216303 (2024-003)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2026-06-01

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Medical Center lacks formal policies for independent review of vaccine inventory, risking inaccuracies.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 42 USC 1396s for maintaining control and accountability over vaccines is not met.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement formal policies for timely reconciliation and independent review of vaccine records, ensuring segregation of duties.

Finding Text

Agency: Department of Public Health Federal Assistance Listing Number: 93.268 Immunization Cooperative Agreements Award Year: 2024 Pass-Through Entity: N/A Criteria: In accordance with 42 USC 1396s, effective control and accountability must be maintained for all vaccine administered under the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. Vaccine inventories must be adequately safeguarded and used solely for authorized purposes, including administration only to eligible children as defined under 42 USC 1396s(b)(2)(A)(i) through (A)(iv). In addition, providers are expected to maintain adequate internal controls over vaccine inventory management and reporting processes, including independent review and approval procedures to ensure the accuracy, completeness, and accountability of vaccine inventory reconciliations and related reporting. Condition and Context: The Medical Center did not have formal policies or procedures in place requiring independent review or approval of vaccine inventory reconciliations. As a result, there was no documented evidence that vaccine inventory balances and doses administered were independently reviewed or verified for accuracy. Questioned Costs: None reported. Cause: The finding was caused by the Medical Center’s lack of established internal control procedures over vaccine inventory records. Specifically, formal review and approval controls, including appropriate segregation of duties, were not implemented to ensure vaccine inventory records were independently verified. Effect: Without independent review and appropriate segregation of duties, the risk increases that errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in vaccine inventory counts may not be detected in a timely manner. This may result in inaccurate vaccine inventory records and noncompliance with program requirements. Recommendation: We recommend that the Medical Center establish and implement formal written policies and procedures requiring timely reconciliation, independent review, and documented approval of vaccine inventory records. The Medical Center should also strengthen segregation of duties by assigning inventory counting, reconciliation preparation, and review responsibilities to different individuals, where feasible, to ensure vaccine inventory information is accurate and complete.

Corrective Action Plan

Corrective Action Planned: Management acknowledges the finding related to the lack of formal policies or procedures in place requiring independent review or approval of vaccine inventory reconciliations prior to submission of the Vaccine Order Form during the time of the audit. 1. Inventory Reconciliation Workflow and System Controls The State of Connecticut utilizes CT WiZ, a centralized vaccine ordering and supply management system. To maintain ordering privileges, the program enforces a strict regulatory safeguard: inventory must be fully reconciled every two weeks. Failure to complete this reconciliation triggers an automated, hard stop within CT WiZ, preventing any additional vaccine orders from being placed. To ensure absolute accuracy and data integrity, our practice executes a standardized, threepart reconciliation process that typically leverages a dual-provider verification model: • Part 1: Physical Count (Floor Staff): Clinical nurses on the floor conduct a manual, physical inventory of all vaccine doses, cross-referencing exact lot numbers and expiration dates. • Part 2: Electronic Health Record Alignment (Coordinator): The designated Vaccine Coordinator reviews the physical counts against the electronic Lot Manager log within Epic to identify and resolve any administrative discrepancies. • Part 3: State System Data Entry (Coordinator): The verified quantities are formally submitted into the CT WiZ portal to complete the biweekly cycle and clear the system for subsequent orders. Staffing Redundancy: While a single coordinator may occasionally manage all three steps if cross-covering the floor, the workflow is deliberately structured to divide tasks between floor nurses (physical counts) and site coordinators (via EMR reconciliation and CT WiZ entry). 2. Vaccine Oversight Team Vaccine operations are managed through a centralized leadership structure with site-specific accountability to ensure consistent oversight at clinic locations. Vaccine operations may be managed by a senior nurse practice manager, practice manager, lead nurse or a backup coordinator. This triad ensures continuous coverage, strict adherence to ordering schedules, and immediate troubleshooting for storage or inventory alerts. 3. Storage, Handling, and Annual Training Compliance In alignment with state oversight expectations and the strict guidelines governing CVP asset management, cold-chain integrity and proper handling are heavily protected. To mitigate risk and standardize knowledge across all care teams, the following educational requirements are mandated: • Mandatory Annual Training: All rostered nursing personnel - including core staff, float pool, and per diem nurses - are strictly required to complete annual training modules dedicated to CVP guidelines and CDC Storage and Handling. • Verification of Competency: Training must be completed through the official CDC TRAIN platform, and employees must submit their earned certificates of completion to clinical leadership to be maintained on file for audit readiness. Name(s) of Contact Person(s) Responsible for Corrective Action: Matthew Farr, VP Ambulatory Operations, Cynthia O’Brien, Senior Nurse Manager Practice Operations Anticipated Completion Date: 01/01/2026

Categories

Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Subrecipient Monitoring Reporting Equipment & Real Property Management

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1216269 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216270 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216271 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216272 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216273 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216274 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216275 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216276 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216277 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216278 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216279 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216280 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216281 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216282 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216283 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216284 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216285 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216286 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216287 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216288 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216289 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216290 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216291 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216292 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216293 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216294 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216295 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216296 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216297 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216298 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216299 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216300 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216301 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1216302 2024-002
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.215 INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO LITERACY; PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS; FULL-SERVICE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS; AND CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING FOR ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION COMMUNITY PROJECTS $3.51M
93.847 DIABETES, DIGESTIVE, AND KIDNEY DISEASES EXTRAMURAL RESEARCH $2.04M
14.905 LEAD HAZARD REDUCTION DEMONSTRATION GRANT PROGRAM $1.52M
93.268 IMMUNIZATION COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS $1.36M
20.600 STATE AND COMMUNITY HIGHWAY SAFETY $1.00M
14.913 HEALTHY HOMES PRODUCTION PROGRAM $825,746
16.575 CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE $373,719
93.153 COORDINATED SERVICES AND ACCESS TO RESEARCH FOR WOMEN, INFANTS, CHILDREN, AND YOUTH $347,961
93.838 LUNG DISEASES RESEARCH $300,990
93.645 STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES CHILD WELFARE SERVICES PROGRAM $229,934
21.027 CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS $156,483
93.243 SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROJECTS OF REGIONAL AND NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE $138,474
93.242 MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH GRANTS $116,638
93.914 HIV EMERGENCY RELIEF PROJECT GRANTS $107,775
93.398 CANCER RESEARCH MANPOWER $59,490
93.865 CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT EXTRAMURAL RESEARCH $59,164
93.226 RESEARCH ON HEALTHCARE COSTS, QUALITY AND OUTCOMES $58,047
93.855 ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES RESEARCH $48,558
93.421 STRENGTHENING PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEMS AND SERVICES THROUGH NATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS TO IMPROVE AND PROTECT THE NATION’S HEALTH $30,891
93.994 MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICES BLOCK GRANT TO THE STATES $30,500
93.110 MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH FEDERAL CONSOLIDATED PROGRAMS $29,963
93.361 NURSING RESEARCH $26,893
93.853 EXTRAMURAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS IN THE NEUROSCIENCES AND NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS $21,212
93.080 BLOOD DISORDER PROGRAM: PREVENTION, SURVEILLANCE, AND RESEARCH $17,928
93.846 ARTHRITIS, MUSCULOSKELETAL AND SKIN DISEASES RESEARCH $15,038
93.310 TRANS-NIH RESEARCH SUPPORT $13,915
93.940 HIV PREVENTION ACTIVITIES HEALTH DEPARTMENT BASED $8,235
93.395 CANCER TREATMENT RESEARCH $8,006
12.420 MILITARY MEDICAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT $4,933
93.191 GRADUATE PSYCHOLOGY EDUCATION $4,529
93.493 CONGRESSIONAL DIRECTIVES $83