Press Release • Ohio Auditor of State
Logan-Hocking Local Schools Owe Ohio Medicaid Nearly $26,000
Columbus – The Logan-Hocking Local School District (Hocking County) received $25,345 in Medicaid overpayments over a span of three years, according to a Medicaid examination released today by Auditor of State Dave Yost.
The review identified 42 overpayments in a sample of 433 services provided between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2014. With interest in the amount of $481, the school district owes the Ohio Department of Medicaid $25,826.
A review of service documentation discovered 25 errors, including four services that included a start time, end time and a detailed note, but school attendance records showed the recipients were absent on the dates of service. Auditors also noted 18 services with supporting documentation that did not match the units billed and three services that lacked any service documentation.
Most of the errors were a result of the district’s reliance on individual practitioners and its external billing company to update information and ensure claims submitted were accurate.
“Proactivity is key to ensuring outside billing companies keep your data in line,” Auditor Yost said. “The district needs a reliable system of internal controls to make sure students get the services they need without wasting tax dollars.”
In addition, testing of 21 practitioners that provided services during the examination period found that two rendered a total of 15 services before completing required criminal records checks. The district did not maintain background checks for all practitioners, so auditors could not determine if it routinely verified that the practitioners successfully completed the checks before providing services.
The review also examined Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), which are required for recipients of special education services, and identified three services that were not authorized in an IEP.
A full copy of this report is available online.
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The Auditor of State’s office, one of five independently elected statewide offices in Ohio, is responsible for auditing more than 5,800 state and local government agencies. Under the direction of Auditor Dave Yost, the office also provides financial services to local governments, investigates and prevents fraud in public agencies and promotes transparency in government.
Contact:
Ben Marrison
Director of Communications
614-644-1111