Condition: The Center did not properly follow its sliding fee scale policy and procedures for patients that applied for a sliding fee discount and did not properly maintain documentation to support qualifications and the sliding fee discount received. Criteria: The Health Center Program Compliance Manual requires a health center to have operating procedures for assessing and re-assessing all patients for income and family size consistent with approved sliding fee discount program policies. Management Response to Findings: As an FQHC, the Center is required to have operating procedures for assessing and re-assessing patients for sliding fee discounts. During FY2021, the Center identified system limitations that made the sliding fee discount program application ineffective. In response to the limitations, the Center implemented a different sliding fee discount structure on April 1, 2022, in FY2022, and continued internal audits to review the application of current policies and procedures. The Center acknowledges that the sliding fee scale workflow resides in two departments, and current structures and processes are ineffective in the handling and correction of deficiencies. The Center hired two people with direct duties of setting the sliding fee scale assessments. These focused work duties will increase the accuracy and efficiencies of setting the assessments. Timing of corrective action: As of April 1, 2022, the Center has simplified the sliding fee discount structure to address system-generated errors in discount application. As of September 30, 2022 the Center has implemented an improved structure for sliding fee scale training and assessment. As of January 2023 the Center hired two people with focused work duties for setting sliding fee scale assessments. As of March 2023 the Center has enhanced internal audit procedures in place. Contact: Bryan Chalmers, Chief Finance Officer, Partnership Health Center, 401 Railroad Street W., Missoula, MT 59802; chalmersb@phc.missoula.mt.us, (406)258-4445