Finding Text
2022-002 Application of Sliding Fee Discount Program Information Federal Organization U.S Department of Health and Human Services Assistance Listing Numbers 93.224 & 93.527 Health Center Program Cluster Award Numbers H80CS26583, H8FCS41666 Criteria [X] Compliance Finding [ ] Significant Deficiency [ ] Material Weakness Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, Subpart F, Compliance Supplement, Part 4, Compliance Requirement N, Special Tests and Provisions states, ?Health Centers must 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 patients ability to pay.? Condition During our testing of sliding fee discounts for health center patients qualifying for reduced charge visits, we identified two incidents in which the incorrect sliding fee was applied. Context This finding appears to be an isolated incident. A sample size of 25 patients included two which did not have the correct sliding fee applied. Cause The Organization did not follow its policies and procedures set in place to ensure the sliding fee schedule discount is correctly determined and applied to patient accounts. Effect Patients may have been granted the incorrect sliding fee discount. Questioned Costs None identified Recommendation We recommend continued effort in training personnel to be properly trained on applying the appropriate sliding fee discount based on the Organization?s approved policy and in compliance with the OMB Compliance Supplement requirements. An appropriate level of review should be conducted on patient accounts to ensure proper document retention, application of sliding fee discounts, and third-party insurance billing. Views of responsible officials and planned corrective action CrescentCare agrees with the finding and will train and retrain staff on correct implementation of the sliding fee scale. Management supports continued training of staff on applying the appropriate sliding fee discount.