Finding 50168 (2022-002)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
E
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-09-25
Audit: 42609
Organization: Sibley County (MN)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Sibley County's eligibility determination process lacks updated documentation in MAXIS, risking ineligible benefit payments.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations ? 200.303, which mandates effective internal controls over federal awards.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Sibley County should enhance procedures to ensure all eligibility documentation is complete and current in MAXIS.

Finding Text

2022-002 Eligibility Prior Year Finding Number: N/A Repeat Finding Since: N/A Type of Finding: Internal Control Over Compliance and Compliance Severity of Deficiency: Significant Deficiency and Other Matter Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Program: 93.778 Medical Assistance Program Award Number and Year: 2205MN5ADM; 2022 Pass-Through Agency: Minnesota Department of Human Services Criteria: Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations ? 200.303 states that the auditee must establish and maintain effective internal control over the federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the auditee is managing the federal award in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award. Condition: The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) maintains the computer system, MAXIS, which is used by Sibley County to support the eligibility determination process. In the case files reviewed for eligibility, not all documentation was available or updated to support participant eligibility. In a sample of 40 MAXIS case files tested, four case files included outdated vehicle information. Questioned Costs: None. Context: The State of Minnesota and the County split the eligibility determination process. Pursuant to Minnesota statutes, Sibley County performs the ?intake function? needed for this program, while the state maintains the MAXIS system, which supports the eligibility determination process. Participants receive benefit payments from the state. The sample size was based on guidance from chapter 11 of the AICPA Audit Guide, Government Auditing Standards and Single Audits. Effect: The lack of updated information in MAXIS and documented verification of key eligibility-determining factors increases the risk that a program participant will receive benefits when they are not eligible. Cause: Program personnel entering case data into MAXIS reviewed the support but did not enter or update the information in the system or was not required to verify or correspond to a recertification or renewal as it was not required during the pandemic. Recommendation: We recommend Sibley County implement additional procedures to provide reasonable assurance that all necessary documentation to support eligibility determinations exists and is properly updated in MAXIS. View of Responsible Official: Concur.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding Number: 2022-002 Finding Title: Eligibility Program: 93.778 Medical Assistance Program Name of Contact Person Responsible for Corrective Action: John Stepien - Financial Assistance Supervisor Corrective Action Planned: Ongoing communication with agency Eligibility staff will occur regularly. Unit meetings are planned and will be held twice per month with Health Care as a standing agenda item. The importance of updating MAXIS with reported information will be discussed at these meetings. DHS also provides County and Tribal nations with regular update meetings which agency staff will be encouraged to watch every other Wednesday. In addition, the HCE-PIX meetings are specifically directed toward heath care and the updates that were made to policy and procedure. These meetings occur between 2 to 5 times per month and the information shared will also be a topic of discussion during our semimonthly unit meetings. During the unwinding period of the Public Health emergency DHS has sent out several bulletins with policy updates and the procedures these new policies require along with agency responsibilities. Communicating these changes regularly will aide in the appropriate and accurate determination of Health Care eligibility. Anticipated Completion Date: July 01, 2023 and ongoing.

Categories

Eligibility Significant Deficiency Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 626610 2022-002
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.871 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers $179,975
93.558 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families $140,470
93.667 Social Services Block Grant $98,925
93.563 Child Support Enforcement $75,699
10.557 Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children $73,206
93.268 Covid-19 - Immunization Cooperative Agreements $71,806
93.658 Foster Care_title IV-E $53,161
90.404 2018 Hava Election Security Grants $27,560
10.561 State Administrative Matching Grants for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program $26,032
20.205 Highway Planning and Construction $24,127
97.042 Emergency Management Performance Grants $18,850
93.994 Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant to the States $16,927
93.268 Immunization Cooperative Agreements $11,428
93.778 Medical Assistance Program $8,230
93.354 Public Health Emergency Response: Cooperative Agreement for Emergency Response: Public Health Crisis Response $8,099
93.669 Child Abuse and Neglect State Grants $5,994
93.575 Child Care and Development Block Grant $5,405
93.590 Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention Grants $4,142
93.959 Block Grants for Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse $2,973
93.556 Promoting Safe and Stable Families $2,598
93.645 Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services Program $2,365
84.181 Special Education-Grants for Infants and Families $2,100
93.674 John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood $1,750
93.767 Children's Health Insurance Program $1,621
93.566 Refugee and Entrant Assistance_state Administered Programs $319
93.251 Early Hearing Detection and Intervention $225