Finding 35322 (2022-002)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
L
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-09-19
Audit: 24008
Organization: Sweeny Hospital District (TX)
Auditor: Forvis

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The District inaccurately reported lost revenues for the COVID-19 Provider Relief Fund due to using cash basis accounting instead of the required accrual basis.
  • Impacted Requirements: Reporting criteria under 45 CFR 75.342 were not met, leading to material errors in financial reporting for 2019-2021.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Update policies and procedures for federal grant reporting to ensure accurate and complete financial information is used, as this is a repeat finding.

Finding Text

2022-002 COVID-19 Provider Relief Fund and American Rescue Plan (ARP) Distribution Federal Assistance Listing Number 93.498 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Criteria: Reporting (45 CFR 75.342) Condition: The District is required to prepare and submit period two and three provider relief fund reporting. These reports are to be prepared using accurate financial information and submitted by the deadline established. Revenues were reported on a cash basis, which materially impacted the quarterly lost revenues reported. Questioned costs: None. Context: The period two and period three provider relief fund reports were tested. The District selected option 1 to report lost revenues based on quarterly actuals. A material error in the calculation of the patient service revenue for the quarters reported was identified. This included the use of cash collections rather than the District?s normal method of accounting, accrual basis, materially impacting the quarterly lost revenues reported. Effect: Errors were made in reporting quarterly Total revenue/Net Charges from Patient Care for each year, 2019, 2020, and 2021. Lost revenue was not accurately reported. However, the District utilized allowable costs for Period 2 and 3 funding received, so that no lost revenues were utilized as a basis for the funds received, and as such, there were no questioned costs. Cause: Internal controls of compliance were not in place to ensure the District properly reported revenue. The District selected option one and did not accurately report revenue on the accrual basis. Recommendation: Policies and procedures over federal grant reporting should be modified to ensure reports are prepared using complete and accurate information. Identification as a repeat finding: This is a repeat finding. See 2021-002. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: Management agrees with this finding and will review procedures regarding lost revenue calculations to ensure amounts reported are accurate for future reporting periods. See attached corrective action plan for the District?s response to finding.

Corrective Action Plan

We are in receipt of the findings required to be reported by the single audit for Period 2 and Period 3 reporting for payments received from the Provider Relief Fund (PRF), specifically, regarding discrepancies in the reporting requirements and auditing for the above period for the PRF. Management does not dispute the finding. Subsequent to the completion of the FY 2021 single audit and the completion of reporting for periods 2 and 3, the district has prioritized the development of policies over financial reporting processes for all future periods of PRF reporting and auditing. The district will perform detailed analysis of the reporting requirements in accordance with the guidelines set forth by HRSA. The hospital CEO, Kelly Park, will oversee this to ensure that this is accomplished. The district will also provide its? consultants and information to be submitted to HRSA for accuracy. The district has already implemented these new procedures for period 4 reporting, and is confident that all future submissions will be correct. The Corrective Action Plan will be implemented by September 30, 2023.

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Reporting Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 611764 2022-002
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.498 Provider Relief Fund and American Rescue Plan (arp) Rural Distribution $1.14M
93.155 Rural Health Research Centers $255,561