Finding Text
Finding 2022-002 - Significant Deficiency in Internal Control - Activities Allowed and Unallowed; Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Assistance Listing Number: 93.498 COVID-19 - Provider Relief Fund and American Rescue Plan (ARP) Rural Distribution Program Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Pass-Through Agency: Not applicable Award Number/Year: N/A / 2020 Criteria: Non-federal entities in receipt of federal funds must comply with the requirements of 2 CFR 200.303(a), which require an entity to establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award to ensure compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. Provider Relief Fund (PRF) payments must be used for allowable expenses and lost revenue described in the PRF terms and conditions and specified in guidance issued by HHS. Activities allowed have been defined as health care related expenses used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus or lost revenues that are attributable to coronavirus. Condition/Context: A sample of 40 items were selected for testing. During our testing, we noted one item selected for testing did not contain support of authorization. This was not a statistically valid sample. Effect: There were costs charged to the program that did not contain evidence of review and authorization. Questioned Costs: None Cause: Certain invoices are approved via email. Email support of approval was not maintained due to IT email retention policies. Recommendation: We recommend that management develop and implement formal policies and procedures for administration of the federal award program that includes assigning an individual with the appropriate skills, knowledge, and expertise of the award to review and approve expenditures prior to being allocated to the program and ensure support is maintained. Management should ensure these policies and procedures are being implemented as designed. Recommendation: We recommend that management develop and implement formal policies and procedures for administration of the federal award program that includes assigning an individual with the appropriate skills, knowledge, and expertise of the award to review and approve expenditures prior to being allocated to the program and ensure support is maintained. Management should ensure these policies and procedures are being implemented as designed. Views of Responsible Officials: The Company agrees with the finding and will implement procedures to ensure all invoices approved via email will be stored in our document management and workflow software.