Finding 41939 (2022-002)

Material Weakness
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-09-28
Audit: 38291
Organization: Wheeling Hospital, Inc. (WV)
Auditor: Forvis LLP

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The System lacks controls to ensure written consent from HUD before new debt or lease arrangements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with the Uniform Guidance regarding internal controls over material compliance requirements.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should implement effective controls to secure written consent from HUD prior to any new debt or lease agreements.

Finding Text

Criteria: The Uniform Guidance requires appropriate internal controls over compliance for each direct and material compliance requirement. Proper controls should be established to ensure written consent from HUD prior to incurring new debt or lease arrangements is obtained. Condition: The System did not have a control process established to ensure written consent was obtained. Effect: The System did not maintain written consent from HUD prior to obtaining new debt or lease arrangements. Questioned Costs: None. Cause: Lack of effectively designed and implemented controls around obtaining written consent from HUD regarding new debt or lease arrangements. Recommendation: Management should establish effective controls over compliance to ensure the written consent is obtained prior to incurring new debt or lease arrangements. Management Response: See corrective action plan.

Corrective Action Plan

Contact Person: William Bane Management's Response: Management acknowledges that there were not sufficient controls in place to ensure written consent from HUD prior to incurring new debt or lease arrangements. Management does feel that subsequent emails and phone conversations did take place where communication of new debt or lease arrangements were discussed. However, Management cannot produce hard copy documentation due to not having access to the email files of management that was in place at that time. Current Management has now established effective controls to ensure that written consent is obtained prior to incurring new debt or lease arrangements. Going forward, Accounting will verify prior to submitting any payments that the addendum with the HUD language has been received . These will be scanned and saved to one central location so that they are easy to obtain. In addition, once Accounting Management is aware of any new debt being discussed, we will ensure there is a copy of the approval from HUD kept in Accounting so it can be easily obtained. Completion Date: September 28, 2023

Categories

HUD Housing Programs Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 41938 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 618380 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency
  • 618381 2022-002
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.128 Mortgage Insurance_hospitals $43.58M
93.498 Provider Relief Fund $12.34M
93.461 Covid-19 Testing for the Uninsured $300,057
93.110 Maternal and Child Health Federal Consolidated Programs $51,682