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Review of the Bridges System, Department of Human Services
Receives AOPTA
Award for six month period ending December 31, 2007
Scott Strong is pleased to announce that the review of the Bridges System,
Department of Human Services is the winner of the Audit Operations Project Team
Award (AOPTA) for the six-month period ended December 31, 2007. The audit team
included Shelly Fanson, Audit Supervisor; audit team members Bob Kern and Ryan
Riley; Steve Baker, Audit Division Administrator; and Melissa Schuiling, Audit
Manager. This project received two nominations.
The AOPTA was established in 1992 and is awarded every 6 months to recognize
exceptional efforts of project teams in the Bureau of Audit Operations.
The review of Bridges was conducted because of concerns over the development of
Bridges. The review generated questions from Senator Hardiman as to the status
of the Bridges project. The review was challenging because the system was still
under development. The review included project oversight and management
practices; project goals and objectives; design, testing, and implementation
plans; and consultant and vendor contracts.
The audit team demonstrated excellence in many aspects including coordinating
with 4 departments, contacting and obtaining information from other states,
quickly adapting to changes in audit scope, and completing audit fieldwork
timely. Despite the challenges, the audit team always maintained a positive and
willing attitude.
The review identified 22 findings. Because Bridges was still in the development
phase with pilot of the system to occur within 4 months and because of the
large amount of money still to be spent on Bridges, it was imperative that the
issues be brought to the department’s and legislature’s attention quickly. Therefore,
rather than issue a standard audit report, the findings were reported in an
expedited letter. The audit team worked collectively to develop the 15-page
letter and observations. In response to the review, DHS and DIT hired and
appointed two new staff to manage the project.
The significance of the audit report’s conclusions and findings was exemplified
by the high level of legislative interest, including multiple meetings between
the audit team and Senator Hardiman and multiple, on-going senate hearings.
Performance Audit of the Court Originated Liability (COLS) Section
Receives AOPTA
Award for six month period ending June 30, 2007
Scott Strong, Deputy Auditor General, is pleased to announce that the
Performance Audit of the Court Originated Liability (COLS) Section, Medical
Services Administration, Department of Community Health (DCH) is the winner of
the AOPTA for the six-month period ended June 30, 2007. The audit team
consisted of Scot Hazel, Audit Supervisor; audit team members Pam Huffman,
Corrie Jameson, and former employee Aimee Wingle; Rick Stafford, Audit Division
Administrator; and Tom Beuerle, Audit Manager. In addition, significant
technical assistance was provided by Andy Mitchell.
This was a very complex audit and required a lot of extra effort from the audit
team. The audit crew had to obtain a thorough understanding of Michigan's
Medicaid program and its complex federal regulations. And because COLS'
operations were intertwined with several other programs, the audit crew also had
to obtain a thorough understanding of Michigan's No Fault automobile insurance
laws, workers compensation laws, paternity and child support laws and related
administrative rules and regulations.
Auditing efforts were complicated by COLS' interdependence with other State and
local government offices such as local Friend of the Court and prosecuting
attorneys offices. Auditing efforts were also hampered by the significant
control deficiencies that we identified (and reported on) during the audit. The
audit included several data matches, along considerable data analysis and case
file review. As an example, we obtained access to State Police automobile crash
data and statewide workers compensation claim data and successfully matched it
with State Medicaid claims data. We the subsequently identified Medicaid
expenditures that were the liability of other parties.
The audit report contained 11 audit findings and 15 corresponding
recommendations. Seven of the audit findings were classified as material
conditions. As a result of the audit, we identified $207.4 million in potential
or missed Medicaid recoveries.
Performance Audit of the Selected Medicaid Pharmaceutical Drug Transactions
Receives NLPES Award
Congratulations to Rick Stafford, Audit Division Administrator; Tom Beuerle,
Audit Manager; Bryan Weiler, supervisor; and team members: Patricia Chooi and
former employee Tamara Torongo, with technical support provided by Andy
Mitchell.
This page was updated on 4/8/08.