Finding Text
Assistance Listing, Federal Agency, and Program Name 93.224, 93.527; Health Center Program Cluster (Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless, and Public Housing Primary Care)
Federal Award Identification Number and Year H8GCS47788, H8LCSS0692, H8OCS000190, H8FCS41189, and C8ECS43772 2023
Pass through Entity N/A
Finding Type Significant deficiency and material noncompliance with laws and regulations
Repeat Finding Yes
2022 001
Criteria In accordance 42 CFR section 51c 303(f), Health Centers must prepare and apply a sliding fee discount schedule (SFDS) so that the amounts owed for health center services by eligible patients are adjusted (discounted) based on the patient's ability to pay.
Condition Not all patients received updated adjustments based on the new schedule.
Questioned Costs Unknown
Identification of How Questioned Costs Were Computed N/A
Context Out of a sample of 40 patients tested, the sliding fee adjustment for 3 patients was incorrect. The Company improperly applied discount using an outdated sliding fee discount schedule (SFDS).
Cause and Effect An appropriate review of sliding fee adjustments was not completed to ensure the correct adjustment was applied. As a result, not all patients received updated adjustments based on the new schedule.
Recommendation We recommend the Company implement controls, including levels of review, to ensure sliding fee adjustments are based on correct SFDS.
Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions The Company will review sliding fee adjustments to ensure they are based on the correct, most up to date sliding fee discount schedule.