Finding 530197 (2021-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
AB
Questioned Costs
$1
Year
2021
Accepted
2025-03-25
Audit: 348302
Organization: Huntsville Memorial Hospital (TX)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: There were 6 instances of missing invoices for contract labor expenses, violating the requirement for supported expenditures from the Provider Relief Fund.
  • Impacted Requirements: The Provider Relief Fund cannot be used for unsupported costs, which raises concerns about potential excess reimbursement.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Management should ensure the new accounting system is fully utilized to maintain easy access to all paid invoices to prevent future issues.

Finding Text

2021-001 Allowable Costs Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Program Title: Provider Relief Fund AL Number: 93.498 Award Period: April 1, 2020 – June 30, 2020 (Period 1) Type of Finding: Significant deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance and Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: Provider Relief Fund cannot be used to cover unsupported or inaccurate expenditures. Condition and Context: During our testing we noted 6 instances in which the supporting invoice for a contract labor expense was not able to be identified. Cause: There was a change in accounting systems subsequent to the period under audit, and the previous system was not digitized. With the change in the system, previous paper invoices were unable to be obtained. Effect: Potential to receive excess reimbursement from the Provider Relief Fund. Questioned Costs: $9,964 Repeat finding: No Recommendation: We recommend that management implement a system that allows for easy identification of any copies of invoices paid. Management’s Response: Management has since updated their accounting system which is now digitized and allows for them to obtain any invoices that have been paid by the Hospital. However, it is noted there was sufficient lost revenue to support the PRF distributions received in the period under audit even with the questioned costs considered.

Corrective Action Plan

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2021-001 Provider Relief Fund – Assistance Listing No. 93.498 Recommendation: We recommend that management implement a system that allows for easy identification of any copies of invoices paid. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: Huntsville Community Hospital, Inc. now operates under a full digitized accounting and payables system which allows them to pull any historical invoice copies as needed. Name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action: Paul Hanson, CFO Planned completion date for corrective action plan: Huntsville Community Hospital, Inc. now operates under a full digitized accounting and payables system.

Categories

Questioned Costs Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Cash Management Significant Deficiency Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1106639 2021-001
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.498 Provider Relief Fund and American Rescue Plan (arp) Rural Distribution $6.74M
93.697 Covid-19 Testing and Mitigation for Rural Health Clinics $98,923