Finding Text
Misapplication of the Sliding Fee Scale – Special Tests and Provision – Assistance Listing Numbers: 93.224 and 93.527 Consolidated Health Center Cluster
Type of Finding: Material Weakness over Compliance and Compliance Finding
Condition: The Organization did not properly follow its sliding fee scale policy and procedures for patients that applied for a sliding fee discount and did not properly maintain documentation to support qualification, and the sliding fee discount received.
Criteria: The Health Center Program Compliance Manual requires a health center to have operating procedures for assessing and re-assessing all patients for income and family size consistent with approved sliding fee discount program policies.
Effect: No material noncompliance or questioned costs were noted in the period under audit.
Context: Our testing detected 14 out of 60 patients selected for testing either did not have proper documentation to support their qualification of the sliding fee discount received or received an incorrect discount.
Cause: Inconsistent application of the policies and procedures approved by the Organization.
Recommendation: We recommend the Organization review its current policies and procedures and continue to provide training to all staff members handling the sliding fee scale assessments to ensure assessments are performed in accordance with policy.