Finding 1217899 (2021-001)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
AB
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2021
Accepted
2026-06-17
Audit: 403999
Organization: Tanner Medical Center, Inc. (GA)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Medical Center reported inaccurate lost revenues and lacked proper documentation for $170,775 in claims, along with a significant keying error that overstated revenue by $15,354,590.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with the use of Provider Relief Funds under the CARES Act, which mandates that funds only cover expenses directly related to COVID-19 and not reimbursed by other sources.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The Medical Center should enhance its review processes for submissions, ensuring accuracy and proper documentation, and make corrections promptly upon discovery.

Finding Text

Section III – Federal Award Findings and Questioned Costs 2021-001 – Other Matter - Noncompliance Federal agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Federal program title: COVID-19 Provider Relief Fund (PRF) – Period 1 Assistance Listing No.: 93.498 Criteria: Provider Relief Funds were provided under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act and are to be used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. The funds shall reimburse the recipient only for expenses or lost revenues that are attributable to coronavirus. The funds may not be used to reimburse expenses or lost revenues that have been reimbursed from other sources or that other sources are obligated to reimburse. Condition: The Medical Center reported revenues within the HHS Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Reporting Portal Period 1 submission that did not have adequate documentation. In addition, the Medical Center’s lost revenues included a bad debt transposition keying error affecting net charges from patient care. Cause: Although the Medical Center has a process in place to ensure lost revenues are properly calculated and reviewed, appropriate supporting documentation was not retained, and certain net charges from patient care were overstated. Effect and Questioned Costs: The Medical Center’s lost revenues calculation included $170,775 that doesn’t tie to supporting source documentation. Also, due to a transportation keying error, the Medical Center improperly overstated 2020 Q3 revenue by $15,354,590. After correcting the transportion keying error, the 2020 Q3 Total Revenue/Net Charges from Patient Care would still be greater than the 2019 Q3 Total Revenue/Net Charges from Patient Care, therefore there would be no impact to the calculated lost revenues for the 2020 year over year change in patient care revenues. Recommendations: We recommend the Medical Center continue to review submissions to ensure consistency and accuracy of calculations, and reconciliations to supporting source documentation. Any corrections should be made at the time of discovery. Views of Responsible Officials: See management's correction action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Tanner Medical Center, Inc. (Medical Center) respectfully submits the following corrective action plan for the year ended June 30, 2021. The findings from the June 30, 2021 Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs is discussed below. The findings are numbered consistently with the numbers assigned in the schedule. FEDERAL AWARD PROGRAMS AUDITS FINDINGS Other Matter - Noncompliance (2021-001) Recommendation: We recommend the Medical Center continue to review submissions to ensure consistency and accuracy of calculations, and reconciliations to supporting source documentation. Any corrections should be made at the time of discovery. Planned Corrective Action: The Medical Center agrees with finding and will design controls to establish an adequate review process to ensure consistent and accurate calculations and reconciliations in accordance with HHS guidelines. Carol Crews Chief Financial Officer

Categories

Reporting

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.498 PROVIDER RELIEF FUND $32.39M
93.461 COVID-19 TESTING FOR THE UNINSURED $2.31M
32.006 COVID-19 TELEHEALTH PROGRAM $877,551
10.225 COMMUNITY FOOD PROJECTS $104,163
93.889 NATIONAL BIOTERRORISM HOSPITAL PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM $101,315
93.301 SMALL RURAL HOSPITAL IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM $83,317