Finding 1277 (2022-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
AB
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-11-06
Audit: 2411
Organization: Memorial Hospital at Gulfport (MS)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Timesheets for payroll expenses charged to the Provider Relief Fund lacked management approval, violating internal control requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Non-compliance with 2 CFR 200.430 and 2 CFR 200.303, which mandate proper documentation and internal controls for federal awards.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Enforce the existing policy for supervisory review and approval of timesheets to ensure accurate payroll processing.

Finding Text

Allowable Activities and Costs for Provider Relief Fund Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance Federal Assistance Listing Number: 93.498 COVID-19 – Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Criteria: Per 2 CFR 200.430 (i), personnel costs charged to federal grants are required to be supported by documentation including time records. Per 2 CFR 200.303, a non-federal entity must establish and maintain effective internal control over Federal awards that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and terms and conditions of the Federal award. Condition: Our audit procedures over payroll expenses charged to the PRF federal program disclosed timesheets that were not approved by management prior to payment. Cause: The Hospital has a policy requiring supervisory approval of timesheets. The absence of the proper approval for the timesheets tested appears to be a lack of management oversight. Effect: Unauthorized wages can result from undocumented reviews and approvals of timesheets. Questioned Costs: None Perspective: Seven timesheets in a sample of forty timesheets were not approved by management. Repeat Finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: We recommend the Hospital enforce their policy requiring supervisory review and approval for timesheets to ensure time recorded by employees’ is valid and accurate, and that the salaries and wages paid is for work performed. View of Responsible Officials: See management’s response to the finding in the accompanying Corrective Action Plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Management's Action Plan: Kevin Holland, Vice-President-Stone County and Operations will oversee the supervisory review and approval of timesheets for the next few pay cycles to ensure management is reviewing 100% of the records. He will also work to ensure none of them are being missed through special circumstances as has happended in the past in order to achieve and sustain 100% compliance. Name of Person Responsible for the Plan: Kevin Holland, Vice-President Stone County & Operations. Anticipated Completion Date of the Plan: 3 payroll cycles spanning six weeks. Approximately mid-December 2023 for completion.

Categories

Internal Control / Segregation of Duties Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Significant Deficiency Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 577719 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.498 Covid-19 Provider Relief Fund $16.00M
97.036 Covid-19 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) $7.87M
93.461 Covid-19 Testing for the Uninsured $1.54M
93.268 Covid-19 Immunization Cooperative Agreements $315,000