Finding Text
2024-007 Eligibility – MAXIS Prior Year Finding Number: N/A Year of Finding Origination: 2024 Type of Finding: Internal Control Over Compliance and Compliance Severity of Deficiency: Material Weakness and Modified Opinion Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Program: 93.778 Grants to States for Medicaid Award Number and Year: 2405MN5ADM; 2024 Pass-Through Agency: Minnesota Department of Human Services Criteria: Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations § 200.303 states that the auditee must establish and maintain effective internal control over the federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the auditee is managing the federal award in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award. Title 42 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations §§ 435.911 and 435.945 require the state Medicaid agency to determine and verify eligibility of enrollees in Medicaid. The Minnesota Department of Human Services provides the Minnesota Health Care Programs Eligibility Policy Manual. The manual contains the Minnesota Department of Human Services eligibility policies for the Minnesota Health Care Programs, including the eligibility requirements of Medical Assistance. Specific eligibility requirements are included for participants’ citizenship verification and asset verification. Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.05, requires county agencies to administer Medical Assistance. Condition: The Minnesota Department of Human Services maintains the computer system, MAXIS, which is used by Wilkin County to support the eligibility determination process. In the participant files reviewed for eligibility, not all documentation to support participant eligibility was available, updated, or input correctly. The following exceptions were noted in the sample of 40 participant files tested: • three participants’ citizenship information did not have the birth certificate in the file; and • one participant’s asset information did not match the documentation in the file, and three participant files did not have supporting asset documentation in the file. Questioned Costs: Not applicable. The County administers the program, but the State of Minnesota pays benefits to participants in this program. Context: The State of Minnesota and the County split the eligibility determination process. Pursuant to Minnesota statutes, Wilkin County performs the “intake function” needed for this program, while the State maintains the MAXIS systems, which supports the eligibility determination process. Participants receive benefit payments from the State. The population consisted of 336 active MAXIS participant cases enrolled in Grants to States for Medicaid in 2024; the sample size was 40 participant files. The sample size was based on the guidance from Chapter 11 of the AICPA Audit Guide, Government Auditing Standards and Single Audits. Effect: The improper input or updating of information into MAXIS and the lack of verification or follow-up of eligibility-determining factors increase the risk that program participants will receive benefits when they are not eligible. Cause: Program personnel entering case file information into MAXIS did not ensure all required information was input or updated correctly, supported, and retained. Recommendation: We recommend Wilkin County implement additional procedures to provide reasonable assurance that all documentation needed to support eligibility determinations exists, the program personnel properly input or update the documentation in MAXIS, and the program personnel follow up on issues in a timely manner. In addition, Wilkin County should consider providing further training to program personnel. View of Responsible Official: Concur