Finding 1986 (2023-003)

US Department of Health and Human Services Passed through the NC Department of Health and Human Services Program Name: Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid; Title XIX) AL #: 93.778 Finding: 2023-003 Untimely Review of SSI Termination SIGNIFICANT DEFICENCY Eligibility Criteria: "In accordance with the Medicaid Manual MA-3120, the State sends notification to the County when a participant is no longer eligible under Supplemental Security Income (SSI) determination, the County is required to initiate the ex parte review within 5 workdays of the date the termination appears on the SSI Termination Report, and complete the redetermination within 4 months of the month the case appears on the SSI Termination Report and notify the recipient about applicant's ongoing eligibility for Medicaid." Condition: There were 2 applicant/beneficiaries not reviewed timely and determined to be eligible for Medicaid when their SSI benefits were terminated. Questioned Costs: There was no known affect to eligibility and there were no known questioned costs. Context: "We examined 60 cases from of a total of 435,666 Medicaid claims from the Medicaid beneficiary report provided by NC Department of Health and Human Services to re-determine eligibility. These findings are being reported with the financial statement audit as it relates to Medicaid administrative cost compliance audit. " Effect: "The County did not initiate ex parte review timely, therefore, no eligibility review was completed in the required time period. The lack of follow up and certification lead to applicants receiving Medicaid benefits for which they were not eligible." Identification of a repeat finding: "This is a repeat finding from the immediate previous audit, 2022-005." Cause: Ineffective communication between departments within the Department of Social Services. One area within DSS received State communications that applicants would no longer be eligible for SSI benefits and the County needed to conduct an application process. This information was not shared with other departments in DSS from which the recipient was also receiving benefits. Section III. Federal Award Findings and Questioned Costs (continued) Recommendation: Any State communications related to applicants’ benefits received by any DSS department should be shared with all areas from which the participant receives benefits. State files should be reviewed internally to ensure all actions have been properly closed and the corrective action has been taken. Workers should be retrained on what process needs to be followed when State communications are received. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: The County agrees with the finding.