Finding 554986 (2024-003)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
AB
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2024
Accepted
2025-04-14

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: BHD, LLC miscalculated indirect costs by applying a flat rate instead of adjusting it based on monthly direct expenditures.
  • Impacted Requirements: This practice violates 2 CFR 200.303(a), which mandates effective internal controls over federal awards.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: BHD, LLC should improve internal controls to ensure indirect costs align with actual direct costs for accurate reimbursement requests.

Finding Text

Department of the Health and Human Services Federal Assistance Listing #93.912 Rural Health Care Services Outreach, Rural Health Network Development and Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Significant Deficiency in Internal Control Over Compliance Criteria: 2 CFR 200.303(a) establishes that the auditee must establish and maintain effective internal control over the federal award that provides assurance that the entity is managing the federal award in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and conditions of the federal award. Condition: BHD, LLC calculated their indirect cost rate based on the total grant budget and claimed an equal amount of indirect costs per month instead of calculating the indirect cost rate per direct expenditures for each month. Cause: BHD, LLC did not have an internal control process in place to ensure the correct amounts of indirect costs were requested based on the direct costs for the same period. Effect: Without an effective internal control process in place, improper costs could be charged to the program. Questioned Costs: None reported. Context: A nonstatistical sample of 4 out of 12 indirect expenditures were selected for testing. Repeat Finding from Prior Years: No Recommendation: We recommend BHD, LLC enhance internal control procedures to ensure the indirect cost rate is applied against the monthly direct costs when requesting program reimbursements. Views of Responsible Officials: Historically, the indirect cost received by this grant has not been dependent of the direct expenditures. Based on verbal conversations with the HRSA grant project manager, requesting reimbursement for the indirect costs evenly over the year based on the budget submitted was acceptable. Therefore, the accounting treatment has been reflective of that.

Corrective Action Plan

Finding 2024-003 Federal Agency Name: Department of the Health and Human Services Program Name: Rural Health Care Services Outreach, Rural Health Network Development and Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Federal Financial Assistance Listing #93.912 Compliance Requirement: Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Finding Summary: BHD, LLC calculated their indirect cost rate based on the total grant budget and claimed an equal amount of indirect costs per month instead of calculating the indirect cost rate per direct expenditures for each month. Responsible Individuals: Valarie Howard, Chief Financial Officer Corrective Action Plan: Historically, the indirect cost received by this grant has not been dependent of the direct expenditures. Based on verbal conversations with the HRSA grant project manager, requesting reimbursement for the indirect costs evenly over the year based on the budget submitted was acceptable. Therefore, the accounting treatment has been reflective of that. However, management agrees that recording the indirect cost based on the direct cost expenditures monthly is reasonable and appropriate and will make the change accordingly. Anticipated Completion Date: March 31, 2025.

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Cash Management Significant Deficiency

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1131428 2024-003
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.912 Rural Health Care Services Outreach, Rural Health Network Development and Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement $1.13M
93.107 Area Health Education Centers $139,763
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $127,216