Finding Text
Criteria or specific requirement: The Health Center Program (93.224) requires grantees to prepare and apply a sliding fee discount schedule so that the amounts owed for health center services by eligible patients are adjusted (discounted) based on the patient’s ability to pay. Condition and context: Internal review processes were not completed for nine individuals that received the Sliding Fee Discount. Cause: There is limited review of entry into the internal database for eligibility. Effect or potential effect: Without adequate controls over this process, the Center may provide discounts to ineligible patients.Questioned costs: None.Identification as a repeat finding, if applicable: The Sliding Fee Discount process had a finding last year whereby two individuals who received the discount were not eligible. This was due to the lack of a review process. Recommendation: The Center should ensure that internal control processes for the Sliding Fee Discount policy are consistently followed. A review process should be in place for all patient information entered into the Center’s billing software. Views of responsible officials: Refer to the Corrective Action Plan prepared by the Center in regard to this matter.