Finding 52378 (2022-001)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
E
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-04-05

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There were 44 technical errors in Medicaid case records where documentation did not match NC FAST reports, affecting eligibility verification.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance components, substantiating documentation, and accurate budget calculations were not consistently met across cases.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Conduct internal reviews of files, retrain staff on documentation standards, and ensure all records align with NC FAST data.

Finding Text

Criteria: Medicaid for Aged, Blind and Disabled case records should contain documentation that verifications were done in preparation of the application and these items will agree to reports in the NC FAST system. In this process, documentation should be present and agree back to the records in the NC FAST system. Any items discovered in the process should be considered resources and explained within the documentation. Condition: There were forty-four (44) technical errors discovered during our procedures that resources in the county documentation and those same resources contained in NC FAST were not the same amounts or files containing resources were not properly documented to be considered countable or non-countable. The errors were as follows: Twenty-six (26) cases had a failure to complete at least one compliance component, Fourteen (14) cases lacked substantiating documentation and/or inaccurate resource calculations, Four (4) cases did not have accurate budget calculations. Questioned Costs: There was no affect to eligibility and there were no questioned costs. Context: We examined 60 Medicaid transactions out of 122,960 to re-determine eligibility. These findings were disclosed in a separately issued spreadsheet to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and are being reported with the financial statement audit as it relates to Medicaid administrative cost compliance audit. Effect: For those certifications/re-certifications there was a chance that information was not properly documented and reconciled to NC FAST which affect countable resource and a participant could have been approved for benefits that they were not eligible. Cause: Ineffective record keeping and ineffective case review process, incomplete documentation, and incorrect application of rules for purposes of determining eligibility. Identification of a repeat finding: This is a repeat finding from the immediate previous audit, 2021-002. Recommendation: 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. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective actions: The County agrees with the finding. Supervisors will perform second party reviews to ensure proper documentation is contained in files to support eligibility determinations. Workers will be retrained on what information should be maintained in case files, the importance of complete and accurate record keeping, and reserve calculations.

Corrective Action Plan

Corrective Action: Procedures and controls are being developed for caseworkers to follow. As of December 12, 2022, Jones County has implemented new training for all Medicaid caseworkers. Each caseworker has a trainer that they are assigned to. Management will second party 10 applications/recertification per worker, monthly and will determine if any training is needed. Cases will also be randomly second partied. Management will meet with the caseworker bi-weekly/monthly and also conduct group meeting/trainings as needed. Caseworkers will receive all Administrative Letters and any training that is needed. Management will conduct group training on proper documentation, countable and non-countable resources, budgets and resource calculations. Management will review cases to ensure evidence is inputted correctly and accurate needs units in eligibility are used in determination of benefits. Proposed Completion Date: Certain controls are currently being created and reviewed. Management will monitor the progress of this issue and modify controls as needed. Implementation began on December 12, 2022.

Categories

Eligibility

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 628820 2022-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
10.862 Household Water Well System Grant Program $2.51M
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $1.81M
97.039 Hazard Mitigation Grant $908,759
14.228 Community Development Block Grants/state's Program and Non-Entitlement Grants in Hawaii $550,522
93.778 Medical Assistance Program $550,154
93.563 Child Support Enforcement $178,785
97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) $152,029
93.323 Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases (elc) $115,805
93.268 Immunization Cooperative Agreements $96,216
93.596 Child Care Mandatory and Matching Funds of the Child Care and Development Fund $80,287
10.557 Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children $55,515
97.067 Homeland Security Grant Program $28,958
93.568 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance $28,423
93.069 Public Health Emergency Preparedness $23,778
16.738 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program $22,377
93.658 Foster Care_title IV-E $21,295
93.991 Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant $16,447
97.042 Emergency Management Performance Grants $14,910
93.994 Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant to the States $10,378
93.217 Family Planning_services $10,059
99.U99 Foster Care $8,988
93.667 Social Services Block Grant $7,370
10.561 State Administrative Matching Grants for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program $4,088
99.U99 Lieap Covid-19 Administration $3,323
93.898 Cancer Prevention and Control Programs for State, Territorial and Tribal Organizations $3,250
93.558 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families $1,459
93.436 Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation (wisewoman) $900
93.767 Children's Health Insurance Program $431
93.645 Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services Program $105
93.977 Preventive Health Services_sexually Transmitted Diseases Control Grants $100
93.116 Project Grants and Cooperative Agreements for Tuberculosis Control Programs $50