Finding 584023 (2023-001)

Material Weakness
Requirement
B
Questioned Costs
$1
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-01-05

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Bonuses claimed as COVID-related lacked proper documentation, raising concerns about compliance with federal requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: Internal controls under 2 CFR 200.303 were insufficient, leading to potential misuse of federal funds.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Strengthen documentation retention processes to ensure all grant expenditures are properly supported.

Finding Text

Finding No: 2023-001 Activities allowed/unallowed and allowable costs Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Pass-Through Entities: N/A Assistance Listing Number: 93.498 Program: COVID-19 Provider Relief Fund and American Rescue Plan (ARP) Rural Distribution Award Year: January 1 to March 31, 2023 (Period 4) and July 1 to September 30, 2023 (Period 5) Criteria or Requirement Per 2 CFR 200.303, the non-Federal entity must establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. Condition Found, Including Perspective Bonuses, that were claimed to be COVID-related as reported via the PRF portal, were paid out to St. Dominic employees for which there was no supporting documentation to validate they were allowable COVID-related bonuses in accordance with the System’s policies. Possible Cause Change in control owners at St. Dominic resulting in management’s failure to retain sufficient documentation to support the bonus payments. Questioned Cost $3,000 for all St. Dominic employees Effect Federal funds were possibly expended for unallowable purposes as management could not provide documentation to support the bonuses were COVID-19 related. Statistical Validity The sample was not intended to be, and was not, a statistically valid sample. Repeat Finding in the Prior Year Not a repeat finding. Recommendation The System should strengthen controls over the retention of documentation to ensure that management can provide the necessary documentation to support grant expenditures. View of Responsible Officials Management concurs with this finding. Effective January 2022, the System has transitioned the St. Dominic payroll to be processed centrally at the System in accordance with all System’s processes and procedures.

Categories

Questioned Costs Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 7581 2023-001
    Material Weakness
  • 7582 2023-002
    Material Weakness
  • 584024 2023-002
    Material Weakness

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.498 Provider Relief Fund $20.43M
84.268 Federal Direct Student Loans $15.94M
97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) $2.25M
84.063 Federal Pell Grant Program $1.30M
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund $499,700
14.241 Housing Opportunities for Persons with Aids $337,981
14.218 Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $300,000
93.918 Grants to Provide Outpatient Early Intervention Services with Respect to Hiv Disease $245,677
93.153 Coordinated Services and Access to Research for Women, Infants, Children, and Youth $226,247
93.575 Child Care and Development Block Grant $220,000
93.889 National Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Program $132,576
93.914 Hiv Emergency Relief Project Grants $121,546
84.007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants $93,501
84.033 Federal Work-Study Program $65,305
94.016 Senior Companion Program $64,658
93.124 Nurse Anesthetist Traineeships $36,712
84.335 Child Care Access Means Parents in School $30,149
93.686 Ending the Hiv Epidemic: A Plan for America — Ryan White Hiv/aids Program Parts A and B (b) $17,881
93.127 Emergency Medical Services for Children $16,032
93.310 Trans-Nih Research Support $13,694
93.866 Aging Research $2,343
84.116 Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education $2,000