Finding 512942 (2024-002)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
E
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2024-12-03
Audit: 330742
Organization: Brunswick County (NC)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Inadequate documentation and record-keeping led to errors in eligibility determinations for Medicaid, with a repeat finding from the previous audit.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 42 CFR 435 is necessary for maintaining proper documentation and ensuring accurate eligibility assessments.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement internal reviews and retrain staff on documentation standards; ensure all files include necessary verifications and clearly document actions taken.

Finding Text

Condition: Questioned Costs: Context: Effect: Identification of a repeat finding: Cause: Recommendation: Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Passed through the NC Department of Health and Human Services Program Name: Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid; Title XIX) AL #: 93.778 Finding: 2024-002 Inadequate Request For Information SIGNIFICANT DEFICENCY ELIGIBILITY Criteria: Section III. Federal Award Findings and Questioned Costs (continued) There were 7 errors discovered during our procedures where income or household size was incorrectly calculated or inaccurate information was entered into the case file. There was no known affect to eligibility and there were no known questioned costs. We examined 60 cases from of a total of 1,176,385 Medicaid claims from the Medicaid beneficiary report provided by NC Department of Health and Human Services to redetermine eligibility. These findings are being reported with the financial statement audit as it relates to Medicaid administrative cost compliance audit. For those certifications/re-certifications there was a chance that information was not properly documented and reconciled to NC FAST and a participant could have been approved for benefits for which they were not eligible. Ineffective record keeping and ineffective case review process, incomplete documentation, and incorrect application of rules for purposes of determining eligibility. Files should be reviewed internally to ensure proper documentation is in place for eligibility. Workers should be retrained on what files should contain and the importance of complete and accurate record keeping. We recommend that all files include online verifications, documented resources of income and those amounts agree to information in NC FAST. The results found or documentation made in case notes should clearly indicate what actions were performed and the results of those actions. The County agrees with the finding. See Corrective Action Plan in the following section. This is a repeat finding from the immediate previous audit, 2023-001. In accordance with 42 CFR 435, documentation must be obtained as needed to determine if a recipient meets specific standards, and documentation must be maintained to support eligibility determinations. Electronic matches are required at applications and redeterminations. Condition: Questioned Costs: Context: Effect: Identification of a repeat finding: Cause: Recommendation: Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: Section III. Federal Award Findings and Questioned Costs (continued) The County agrees with the finding. See Corrective Action Plan in the following section. Files should be reviewed internally to ensure proper documentation is in place for eligibility. Workers should be retrained on what files should contain and the importance of complete and accurate record keeping. We recommend that all files include online verifications, documented resources and income and those amounts agree to information in NC FAST. The results found or documentation made in case notes should clearly indicate what actions were performed and the results of those actions. Ineffective record keeping and ineffective case review process, incomplete documentation, and incorrect application of rules for purposes of determining eligibility. This is a repeat finding from the immediate previous audit, 2023-003. For those certifications/re-certifications there was a chance that information was not properly documented and reconciled to NC FAST and applicants could have been approved for benefits for which they were not eligible. We examined 60 cases from of a total of 1,176,385 Medicaid claims from the Medicaid beneficiary report provided by NC Department of Health and Human Services to redetermine eligibility. These findings are being reported with the financial statement audit as it relates to Medicaid administrative cost compliance audit. There was no known affect to eligibility and there were no known questioned costs. There were 2 errors discovered during our procedures where required information needed for eligibility determinations were not requested or not requested timely at applications or redeterminations.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding 2024-001 ELIGIBILITY - INACCURATE INFORMATION ENTRY Name of contact person: Corrective Action: Proposed Completion Date: Finding 2024-002 ELIGIBILITY - INADEQUATE REQUEST FOR INFORMATION Name of contact person: Corrective Action: Proposed Completion Date: Finding 2024-003 ELIGIBILITY - NON-COOPERATION WITH CHILD SUPPORT PROCEDURES Name of contact person: Corrective Action: Proposed Completion Date: Finding 2024-004 ELIGIBILITY - UNTIMELY REVIEW OF SSI TERMINATIONS Name of contact person: Corrective Action: Proposed Completion Date: A Medicaid refersher training on section MA -2320 was completed on 09/27/2024. The topic included budgeting income and data entry into NCFAST. Four additional targeted case reads per week, per worker, will be completed for 4 weeks. For caseworkers for whom errors are identified, additional training will be provided, and targeted case reads will be extended four additional weeks. November 1, 2024 Section III - Federal Award Findings and Question Costs Corrective Action Plan For the Year Ended June 30, 2024 Section II - Financial Statement Findings Sally Strickland, Medicaid Manager A Medicaid refresher training on section MA - 3306, 3300 and refresher on NCFAST Job Aid Removing a person from an Insurance Affordability was completed on 09/30/24. The topic included budgeting income and data entry into NCFAST. Four additional targeted case reads per week, per worker, will be completed for 4 weeks. For caseworkers for whom continued errors are identified, additional training will be provided, and targeted case reads will be extended four additional weeks. Sally Strickland, Medicaid Manager A Medicaid refersher training on section MA - 3421, 3200, 3306 was completed on 09/30/24. The topic included budgeting income and data entry into NCFAST. Four additional targeted case reads per week, per worker, will be completed for 4 weeks. For caseworkers for whom errors are identified, additional training will be provided, and targeted case reads will be extended four additional weeks. Sally Strickland, Medicaid Manager A Medicaid refersher training on section MA - 3365 was completed on 09/30/2024. The topic included budgeting income and data entry into NCFAST. Four additional targeted case reads per week, per worker, will be completed for 4 weeks. For caseworkers for whom errors are identified, additional training will be provided, and targeted case reads will be extended four additional weeks. November 1, 2024 November 1, 2024 November 1, 2024 Sally Strickland, Medicaid Manager

Categories

Eligibility

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 512941 2024-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 512943 2024-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 512944 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 512945 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1089383 2024-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1089384 2024-002
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1089385 2024-003
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1089386 2024-004
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1089387 2024-005
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $5.25M
93.778 Medical Assistance Program $3.27M
14.871 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers $2.67M
10.561 State Administrative Matching Grants for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program $1.22M
93.563 Child Support Services $1.15M
93.658 Foster Care Title IV-E $1.13M
10.557 Wic Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children $685,227
93.558 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families $523,458
93.354 Public Health Emergency Response: Cooperative Agreement for Emergency Response: Public Health Crisis Response $411,592
97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) $354,800
93.243 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance $351,317
93.323 Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases (elc) $245,790
20.600 State and Community Highway Safety $244,154
93.667 Social Services Block Grant $220,626
93.767 Children's Health Insurance Program $215,069
93.596 Child Care Mandatory and Matching Funds of the Child Care and Development Fund $189,278
20.106 Airport Improvement Program, Covid-19 Airports Programs, and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Programs $166,287
12.107 Aiww $100,456
93.568 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance $77,086
66.468 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund $75,291
93.217 Family Planning Services $55,652
93.994 Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant to the States $55,621
16.606 State Criminal Alien Assistance Program $52,331
93.268 Immunization Cooperative Agreements $51,804
21.032 Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund $50,000
93.556 Marylee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program $41,976
93.069 Public Health Emergency Preparedness $34,182
93.898 Cancer Prevention and Control Programs for State, Territorial and Tribal Organizations $30,780
93.991 Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant $30,431
93.674 John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood $29,849
93.659 Adoption Assistance $14,489
15.226 Pilt $5,108
93.917 Hiv Care Formula Grants $680
93.977 Sexually Transmitted Diseases (std) Prevention and Control Grants $100
93.116 Project Grants and Cooperative Agreements for Tuberculosis Control Programs $50
93.566 Refugee and Entrant Assistance State/replacement Designee Administered Programs $19