Finding 1240430 (2024-004)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
C
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2026-10-14

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Organization failed to provide necessary documentation for advance draw requests, leading to potential overdraws and lack of proper approvals.
  • Impacted Requirements: Internal controls over cash management were inadequate, violating federal guidelines for grant fund requests.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Establish a documented process for advance draws, ensuring review and approval by someone other than the requester, to prevent future compliance issues.

Finding Text

2024-004 – Cash Management Finding Type: Material Noncompliance; Material Weakness in Internal Control over Compliance Program: Rural Health Outreach and Rural Network Development Program (AL# 93.912); U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Direct award; all grant numbers. Criteria: Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over the advance payment requests related to federal awards. This includes review and approval for the advance draw from an individual other than the one requesting the draw, as well as support demonstrating that existing grant funds received were expended prior to additional funds being requested. Condition: The Organization was unable to provide documentation to support the advanced draw calculation estimate or its approval by someone other than the individual who requested the draw for eleven of the sixteen selections tested. The Organization was unable to support that existing grant funds were fully expended prior to submitting additional advance draw requests for eleven of the sixteen selections tested. Cause: The Organization does not have a consistent process in place to estimate the amount of advance draws for a 30-day period of needed funding, nor do they have a consistent process in place for the documentation of the review/approval of the advance draw by someone other than the individual who requests the funds. Effect: The Organization could advance draw an amount greater than their need for a 30-day period, or staff could request funds without the proper approval. Questioned Costs: $225,000. Recommendation: The Organization should develop a clearly documented process and method to determine the amount of advance draw not to exceed a 30-day need. This process should include appropriate review, approval and documentation of the advance draw prior to requesting the funds. View of Responsible Officials: Management agrees with the finding. Effective September 1, 2026, management adopted Cash Drawdown Policy which requires a documented calculation of each advance draw not to exceed 30-day cash needs, accounts for federal cash on hand, and requires approval by an individual other than the requester before the draw is submitted. The questioned costs have been resolved. See the Corrective Action Plan. Repeat Finding - 2023-003

Corrective Action Plan

Corrective action taken Effective September 1, 2026, C-WHO adopted a Cash Drawdown Policy. Under the policy: 1. Each advance draw is supported by a Federal Cash Draw Worksheet showing the award, the period covered, federal cash on hand from prior draws, allowable expenditures incurred since the last draw, projected expenditures for the next 30 days, and the calculation of the requested amount. 2. The requested amount may not exceed the projected 30-day need less federal cash on hand. 3. The worksheet is signed and dated by the preparer and approved by a separate authorized individual before the draw is submitted in the Payment Management System. 4. Finance maintains a federal cash reconciliation for each award showing cash received, allowable expenditures paid, and federal cash remaining, reviewed monthly. 5. The worksheet, approval, Payment Management System confirmation, and supporting expenditure detail are retained in the grant file.

Categories

Cash Management

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1240425 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1240426 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1240427 2024-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1240428 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1240429 2024-004
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.912 RURAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES OUTREACH, RURAL HEALTH NETWORK DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL HEALTH CARE PROVIDER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT $570,881
93.243 SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROJECTS OF REGIONAL AND NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE $526,052
93.211 RURAL TELEMEDICINE GRANTS $312,606