Finding Text
Federal agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Other Programs
Federal program title: Provider Relief Funding
CFDA Number: 93.498
Pass-Through Agency: N/A
Pass-Through Number(s): N/A
Award Period: Period 1 & 2
Type of Finding: Significant Deficiency in Internal Control in and over Compliance
Compliance Requirement: Reporting
Criteria or specific requirement: Surrounding reporting activities, the Hospital’s internal controls should be designed to assure all reporting completed under program guidelines.
Condition: During our testing, we identified the Hospital did not have internal controls in place to ensure reporting was completed in accordance with HHS guidelines.
Questioned costs: None
Context: During our testing, it was identified that the Hospital input lost revenue information under Option 1, which compared actual net patient revenue for each quarter during the period of availability against actual for each quarter. In order to utilize this option, all net patient revenue must be included in the calculation and management identified a net percentage within the calculation and intended to report under Option 3. As such, the Hospital calculated lost revenues in accordance with the guidelines of Option 3, but erroneously reported under Option 1.
Cause: The Hospital was amidst a pandemic and due to the reporting requirements constantly changing, the Hospital reported under their initial understanding of the lost revenue guidance.
Effect: The auditor noted no instances of noncompliance with the provisions of lost revenues claimed, as the approved quarters lost revenues exceeded the amount claimed; however, the internal controls around compliance over reporting were not effective.
Repeat Finding: N/A
Recommendation: We recommend the Hospital design controls to ensure that reporting is completing in accordance with latest HHS guidelines.
Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.