Finding 1228620 (2026-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2026
Accepted
2026-09-01
Audit: 410251
Organization: Berkshire Retirement Home INC (MA)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Project's fidelity bond coverage is below the required minimum of two months' gross potential collections.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with HUD's fidelity bond requirements is not being met, leading to a significant deficiency in internal controls.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should increase the coverage amount and establish policies to regularly monitor and maintain compliance with HUD requirements.

Finding Text

Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Program Name: Section 232 Mortgage Insurance for Nursing Homes Assistance Listing Number: 14.129 Award Period: June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026 Type of Finding: • Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance • Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: The Project must obtain a fidelity bond that is equal to or exceeds two months gross potential collections. Condition: Actual fidelity bond coverage amount in FY2026 was less than 2 months of calculated gross potential collections. Questioned costs: $0 Context: No sampling, entire population tested. Cause: The Project did not update coverage amount to keep pace with revenue growth. Effect: Result of the finding is that actual fidelity bond coverage amount fell below the required minimum. Repeat finding: Yes Recommendation: The auditor recommends that management increase their coverage amount to come into compliance with HUD requirements, as well as develop policies and procedures to monitor required coverage minimums to ensure that actual coverage amount is kept at least at that level. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.

Corrective Action Plan

SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCY Section 232 Mortgage Insurance for Nursing Homes – Assistance Listing No. 14.157 Recommendation: The auditor recommends that management increase their coverage amount to come into compliance with HUD requirements, as well as develop policies and procedures to monitor required coverage minimums to ensure that actual coverage amount is kept at least at that level. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: Fidelity Bond coverage was increased prior to fiscal yearend on 05/29/2026 following an internal review that showed that soaring revenues had outpaced the previously enacted increased coverage. The policy has been updated to review the monthly revenue to be sure there is sufficient minimum Fidelity Bond coverage prospectively. Name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action: Edward Forfa, Executive Director, Berkshire Retirement Home, Inc. DBA Berkshire Place, 290 South Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201 413-445-4056 #160; eforfa@berskhireplace.com Planned completion date for corrective action plan: 05/29/2026

Categories

HUD Housing Programs Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1228619 2026-001
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.129 MORTGAGE INSURANCE NURSING HOMES, INTERMEDIATE CARE FACILITIES, BOARD AND CARE HOMES AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES $10.47M