Department of Health and Human Services

Office of Inspector General -- AUDIT

"Medical Assistance Provided by Pennsylvania to Hurricane Katrina Evacuees," (A-03-07-00210)

July 14, 2008


The following link is a pdf file Complete Text of Report is available in PDF format (675 kb). Copies can also be obtained by contacting the Office of Public Affairs at 202-619-1343.


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Of the $1.4 million that Pennsylvania claimed for services provided to Hurricane Katrina evacuees as of March 31, 2007, $552,000 did not comply with the State’s approved hurricane-related section 1115 demonstration project.  Under section 1115 of the Social Security Act, the State was allowed to provide the benefits included in its State Medicaid plan to eligible Hurricane Katrina evacuees for a maximum of 5 months.  The $552,000 included costs for services provided to individuals after their eligibility periods had expired and costs that were not supported by actual recorded expenditures.

We recommended that the State refund $552,000 in unallowable reimbursement and revise its waiver reports for Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi by our audit adjustment amounts.  The State agreed with our recommendation.