Finding Text
Finding 2023.001: Sliding Fee Scale Documentation
Grantor: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Federal Program Names: Health Center Program Cluster
Health Center Program (Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless, and Public Housing Primary Care),
COVID-19 Health Center Program (Community Health Centers, Migrant Health Centers, Health Care for the Homeless, and Public Housing Primary Care),
Grants for New and Expanded Services Under the Health Center Program
COVID-19 Grants for New and Expanded Services Under the Health Center Program
Federal Assistance Listing Numbers: 93.224 and 93.527
Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions
Criteria
Health centers are required to have a corresponding schedule of discounts applied and adjusted on the basis of patients' ability to pay and their eligibility. A patient's eligibility to pay is determined on the basis of the official poverty guideline, as revised by DHHS (42 CFR Sections 51c, 107(b)(5), 56.108(b)(5) and 56.303(f)). The Center should be implementing and monitoring procedures to properly determine, calculate and review sliding fee discounts issued to patients in accordance with the Center's sliding fee scale.
Condition
The Center did not always apply the sliding fee discount accurately based on the Center's sliding fee discount policy.
Cause
The Center did not have adequate internal controls in place to effectively ensure that all sliding fee discounts were properly calculated based on approved documentation.
Effect
The Center did not comply with the appropriate rules and regulations as per the Uniform Guidance.
Questioned Costs
None.
Context
A test of 40 discount transactions was performed and resulted in one instance of a sliding fee discount not being properly calculated based on the respective patient family size and income. Our sample was a statistically valid sample.
Identification of Repeat Finding
Yes - 2022.001.
Recommendation
The Center should establish a system of internal controls to ensure that all sliding fee discounts are properly calculated based on family size and income.
Views of Responsible Officials
Management agrees with the audit finding and will strengthen internal controls and accountability to correct the deficiency.