Finding Text
Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Federal Program Name: Health Center Cluster
Assistance Listing Number: 93.224 & 93.527
Federal Award
Identification Number: H80CS00725-21 and H80CS00725-22
Award Periods: June 1, 2022 – May 31, 2023 and June 1, 2023 – May 31, 2024
Criteria:
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 patient’s ability to pay. (42 USC 254(k)(3)(E), (F), and (G); 42 CFR sections 51c.303(e), (f), and (g); and 42 CFR sections 56.303(e), (f), and (g)).
Condition:
The Organization incorrectly assessed and/or applied the sliding fee discount to a patient encounter during the year.
Questioned Costs:
None.
Context:
One of forty transactions selected for testing.
Cause:
Unknown.
Effect:
Patients are not charged according to the Organization's sliding fee scale and their ability to pay.
Repeat Finding:
No.
Recommendation:
Management should consider increasing the frequency of its self-reviews of patient encounters or expanding its sample sizes in addition to providing additional training for front desk staff regarding the collection and verification of patient information for each patient.
Views of Responsible Officials:
There is no disagreement with the audit finding.