Finding 375453 (2021-002)

Material Weakness
Requirement
A
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2021
Accepted
2024-03-11
Audit: 294509
Organization: Hale County Hospital (AL)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Hospital lacks a proper review process for payroll expenditures, failing to document approvals as required by 45 CFR 75.342.
  • Impacted Requirements: Payroll expenses totaling $828,794 were not adequately approved before reimbursement under the Provider Relief Fund.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement policies to ensure all expenses have documented approvals before payment, as management is already working on this.

Finding Text

Criteria: The Hospital should have a review process in place that includes documentation of review in accordance with 45 CFR 75.342. Condition: The Hospital could not produce evidence of approval of payroll expenditures related to reimbursement under the Provider Relief Fund. Total personnel expenses reported in the Period 1 filing were $828,794. Cause: Payroll expenses selected for testing did not have evidence that the expenditure had been approved. Effect: Payroll expenses tested did not have a documented approval. Questioned Costs: None. Repeat Finding: This is not a repeat finding. Recommendation: Policies and procedures should require the documentation of approval of expenses prior to payment. View of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the finding and is in the process of implementing the recommendations.

Corrective Action Plan

We are implementing policies to address the audit finding 2021-002 as follows: We have implemented a policy to ensure that all expenses are reviewed prior to disbursement and that such evidence of approval is documented and retained. Anticipated completion date: September 30, 2024

Categories

Cash Management

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 375452 2021-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 375454 2021-003
    Material Weakness
  • 951894 2021-004
    Significant Deficiency
  • 951895 2021-002
    Material Weakness
  • 951896 2021-003
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.498 Provider Relief Fund $5.45M
93.461 Covid-19 Testing for the Uninsured $34,160
93.301 Small Rural Hospital Improvement Grant Program $10,200