Finding 559159 (2022-013)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
E
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2025-05-02
Audit: 355386
Organization: Caswell County (NC)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Inaccurate information entry during eligibility determinations for Medicaid, leading to potential approvals for ineligible benefits.
  • Impacted Requirements: Noncompliance with documentation standards as per 42 CFR 435 and inadequate internal controls per 2 CFR 200.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement internal reviews, retrain staff on documentation requirements, and ensure all files include necessary verifications and accurate case notes.

Finding Text

CASWELL COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs For the Year Ended June 30, 2022 US Department of Health and Human Services Passed through the NC Department of Health and Human Services Program Name: Medicaid Assistance Program (Medicaid; Title XIX) AL# 93.778 Finding: 2022-013 Inaccurate Information Entry NONCOMPLIANCE / SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCY Eligibility Criteria: Condition: Questioned Costs: Context: Effect: Identification of a repeat finding: Cause: Recommendation: Views of Responsible officials and corrective action plans: For those certifications/re-certifications there was a chance that information was not properly documented and reconciled to North Carolina Families Accessing Services through Technology (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. This is a repeat finding from the immediate previous audit, 2021-010. Section III. Federal Award Findings and Questioned Costs (continued) There was no known affect to eligibility and there were no known questioned costs. We examined 60 cases from of a total of 260,208 Medicaid claims from the Medicaid beneficiary report provided by NC Department of Health and Human Services to re-determine eligibility. These findings are being reported with the financial statement audit as it relates to Medicaid administrative cost compliance audit. The county agrees with the finding. Please refer to the corrective action plan for details. 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. In accordance with 42 CFR 435, documentation must be obtained as needed to determine if a recipient meets specific income standards, and documentation must be maintained to support eligibility determinations. In accordance with 2 CFR 200, management should have an adequate system of internal controls procedures in place to ensure an applicant is properly determined or redetermined for benefits. There were 10 errors discovered during our procedures that inaccurate information was entered when determining eligibility. One applicant received assistance after moved out of State. 128

Corrective Action Plan

Proposed Completion Date: Finding: 2022-013 Inaccurate Information Entry Name of contact person: Corrective Action: Proposed Completion Date: Heather Starr Thomas, Medicaid Supervisor A refresher training will be held to review errors. Files will be reviewed internally to ensure proper documentation is in place for eligibility. Workers will be retrained on what files should contain and the importance of complete and accurate record keeping. All files include accurate household members, online verifications, documented sources and verifications 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. An updated template has been put in place for applications and recertification to address household members, tax filing status, electronic checks/verifications and documentation that is needed to accurately approve/deny/continue or terminate benefits. Caseworkers will need to review Determinations to ensure all eligibility is calculated accurately. All active cases regardless of program in NCFAST are to be reviewed to ensure we have the correct information. Weekly Communications and Changes will be reviewed weekly at Unit Meeting to address any changes and NCFAST issues that may require a Help Desk Ticket. We will continue to train on this issue, and it will also be addressed in new worker Trainings. Training in the learning gateway is also available. April 11, 2024 Section III - Federal Award Findings and Question Costs (continued) N/A - Caseworkers will adhere to the policy in Administrative Letter 13-23.

Categories

Eligibility Significant Deficiency Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 559158 2022-012
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 559160 2022-014
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1135600 2022-012
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1135601 2022-013
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1135602 2022-014
    Significant Deficiency Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
14.871 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers $1.04M
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $1.00M
93.568 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance $560,088
93.778 Medical Assistance Program $544,303
93.563 Child Support Services $314,430
93.558 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families $306,042
20.509 Formula Grants for Rural Areas and Tribal Transit Program $260,514
93.323 Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases (elc) $217,253
93.667 Social Services Block Grant $186,403
10.561 State Administrative Matching Grants for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program $150,706
93.658 Foster Care Title IV-E $122,175
10.557 Wic Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children $120,140
16.575 Crime Victim Assistance $97,829
93.596 Child Care Mandatory and Matching Funds of the Child Care and Development Fund $88,589
93.045 Special Programs for the Aging, Title Iii, Part C, Nutrition Services $84,866
97.042 Emergency Management Performance Grants $50,353
20.526 Buses and Bus Facilities Formula, Competitive, and Low Or No Emissions Programs $45,144
45.310 Grants to States $37,917
93.217 Family Planning Services $32,078
93.354 Public Health Emergency Response: Cooperative Agreement for Emergency Response: Public Health Crisis Response $31,190
93.069 Public Health Emergency Preparedness $30,720
93.053 Nutrition Services Incentive Program $25,449
93.391 Activities to Support State, Tribal, Local and Territorial (stlt) Health Department Response to Public Health Or Healthcare Crises $22,919
93.994 Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant to the States $22,637
93.044 Special Programs for the Aging, Title Iii, Part B, Grants for Supportive Services and Senior Centers $22,255
93.000 Foster Care $20,221
93.268 Immunization Cooperative Agreements $17,328
93.052 National Family Caregiver Support, Title Iii, Part E $15,975
20.513 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities $14,003
93.991 Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant $10,378
93.767 Children's Health Insurance Program $6,925
93.556 Marylee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program $6,831
93.645 Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services Program $5,035
93.674 John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood $3,408
93.659 Adoption Assistance $871
93.977 Sexually Transmitted Diseases (std) Prevention and Control Grants $100
93.116 Project Grants and Cooperative Agreements for Tuberculosis Control Programs $50